Rep. Jim McGovern reflected on the handling of sexual harassment claims and the sexual harassment reckoning moving through Congress following Sen. Al Franken's (D-Minn.) resignation announcement Thursday.
“I understand why Al Franken did what he did, it was probably the right thing to do to move this debate forward, but I don’t consider him in the same category as I do the president and [Alabama Senate Candidate] Roy Moore,” McGovern told Boston Public Radio Tuesday.
President Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by 19 women. At least six women have accused Moore of sexual misconduct with underage women, including an allegation that Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14 year-old Leigh Corfman when he was a 32 year-old district attorney.
Franken said he would resign Thursday after seven women came forward saying he groped or tried to forcibly kiss them.
During his resignation speech, Franken noted the “irony” that he should resign while Trump remains president and Moore continues to run for Alabama Senate. “I, of all people, am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls is running for Senate with full support of his party,” Franken said, referring to a leaked "Access Hollywood" tape with audio of Trump admitting to groping women without their consent.
“Look, Al Franken is a dear friend of mine ... I felt terrible when he resigned, just because I respect so much of what he’s done,” McGovern said. “And I find it, as he pointed out, ironic that he’s resigning, and yet the President of the United States, who I think, the last I checked, had 19 women who accused him of sexual misconduct, remains in the White House, and you have Roy Moore, who allegedly had relations with children, possibly about to get elected to the United States Senate.”
McGovern also commented on a local scandal, saying that Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg should not step down, at least not yet, following harassment claims against his husband, Bryon Hefner.
“I’m not calling for him to step down at this point,” McGovern said. “I think Stan is doing the right thing at this point, he has basically retreated a little bit here to ask for a full investigation, and then people can make their decisions based on that.”
Rosenberg has taken a leave of absence after several unnamed men have come forward with allegations against Hefner. Senators voted to launch an independent investigation and nominate Harriette Chandler as acting Senate President for the duration of the probe.
“This is all incredibly disturbing and troubling, and it’s been going on for a long, long time,” McGovern said. “I think this is a watershed moment, and we need to make sure that we react in a way that moves us forward. I think in Congress, we have some work to do ... there needs to be a system in place that empowers victims, that protects victims, as well. There are no easy answers here as to the processes that we need to put in place, but clearly one thing is clear: what Congress has in place is awful, and it needs to be addressed.”
Rep. Jim McGovern represents Massachusetts' 2nd Congressional District. To listen to his full interview with Boston Public Radio, click on the audio player above.
