Statement Analysis®

Did Senator Al Franken inappropriately touch a woman?


This month Lindsay Menz claimed that while attending the Minnesota State Fair in 2010 Senator Al Franken inappropriately touched her. The incident occurred when the senator posed for a photo with Ms. Menz. Ms. Menz claims that while standing next to the senator, he "pulled me in really close, like awkward close, and as my husband took the picture, he put his hand full-fledged on my rear. It was wrapped tightly around my butt cheek." Franken responded by saying, "I take thousands of photos at the state fair surrounded by hundreds of people, and I certainly don't remember taking this picture."

In Statement Analysis, we believe what people tell us. This helps us to see exactly what the person is saying or not saying.
- We can believe that Senator Franken takes thousands of photos.
- We can believe he is surrounded by hundreds of people.
- We can believe he doesn't remember taking a picture with Ms. Menz.

However, we cannot believe he does not remember grabbing Ms. Menz's butt because he has not told us that. He does not deny grabbing her rear. The best denial is when the person denies the act itself. The best denial the senator could have given was to say, "I didn't do it" or "I didn't put my hand on her butt."

Update

On Janaury 2, 2018, Franken resigned his from Senate seat.



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