Al Franken says he 'absolutely regrets' resigning over groping allegations as doubts raised over key claim

Seven Democratic senators say they wish they had not backed his ousting

The comedian and former Democratic senator Al Franken has said he “absolutely” regrets resigning over groping allegations, following a report that has questioned some of the main accusation levelled at him.

Mr Franken, a former star of Saturday Night Live who was elected to the Senate in 2009, stood down two years ago after claims of sexual misconduct from at least six women.

“All women deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously,” he said, speaking from the floor of the chamber, where 36 of his Democratic colleagues had urged him to quit.

Now, the 68-year-old has said he regrets the decision, and seven of the thirty-six Democrats said they also wish they had acted differently.

In an interview with the New Yorker, Mr Franken said his therapist had likened his experience to “what happens when primates are shunned and humiliated by the rest of the other primates”. “I’m going to die alone in the jungle,” he said.

The piece quotes seven senators expressing regrets about the way they behaved in late 2017, as the MeToo movement - which saw men and women share their experiences of sexual assault - gathered force, following accusations against Harvey Weinstein and a series of other high profile figures. The movie producer was charged with rape and sexual abuse, allegations to which he has pleaded not guilty.

“If there’s one decision I’ve made that I would take back, it’s the decision to call for his resignation,” said Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, a former senator who was among those who called for Mr Franken to quit.

“It was made in the heat of the moment, without concern for exactly what this was.”

Patrick Leahy, the veteran Democrat from Vermont, said the decision to call for Mr Franken’s resignation without first obtaining all the facts was “one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made” in the Senate.

Many had called for an independent inquiry to be carried out before Mr Franken stood down, but he said he was under pressure from Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer.

“I made a mistake,” said senator Tom Udall of New Mexico. “I started having second thoughts shortly after he stepped down.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, one of two-dozen Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for 2020, said she stood by her decision, despite being criticised by Democratic donors.

“I’d do it again today,” said Ms Gillibrand. “If a few wealthy donors are angry about that, it’s on them.”

The New Yorker report claimed several of the allegations made about Mr Franken by one of the higher profile accusers, conservative comedian and talk show host, Leeann Tweeden, appeared not to stand up to scrutiny.

In November 2017, a talk-radio station released a photo of Mr Franken pretending to grab Ms Tweeden’s breasts while on a 2006 tour for troops organised by the united service organisations (USO).

The report said Ms Tweeden claimed Mr Franken wrote a sketch especially for her so he could kiss her. She said he told her: “When I found out you were coming on this tour, I wrote a little scene, if you will, with you in it.”

She also told a press conference he demanded that they rehearse the kissing scene, something she questioned

“I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn't be so nice about it the next time,” she said. “I felt disgusted and violated.”

The article claims the same sketch performed on previous USO tours, by other actresses, without incident.

There has been no response to the article from Ms Tweeden. She did not immediately respond to enquiries.