Poker Presenter Leeann Tweeden Accuses Al Franken of Sexual Misconduct

November 17th, 2017 | by Kaycee James

Senator Al Franken, D-Minn, has been condemned by President Donald Trump following allegations that he forcibly kissed former Poker After Dark presenter Leeann Tweeden.

Former Poker After Dark Presenter Leeann Tweeden (pictured) has accused Senator Al Franken of forcibly kissing her in 2006. (Image: YouTube/Full Tilt)

Following a myriad of reports alleging sexual misconduct by high profile figures such as Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K., model-turned-presenter Tweeden has accused Franken of similar offenses.

Initially describing the incident via a blog piece on KABC.com, Tweeden wrote that the Democrat put his tongue down her throat without her consent.

Skit Turns Sour

After agreeing to be part of a skit written by Franken to entertain US troops in the Middle East back in 2006, Tweeden said she was pressured into a kissing scene.

Despite insisting that a rehearsal wasn’t necessary, the former Playboy model was eventually backed into a situation that allowed Franken to take advantage of her.

Since her article, in which she calls for the “days of silence” to be over, Tweeden has appeared on CNN to discuss the issue. Admitting that the stories involving Harvey Weinstein brought back memories of the incident, Tweeden said that she still feels angry whenever she sees him.

“He stuck his tongue down my mouth and I remember I pushed him off with my hands and I remember I almost punched him – because every time I see him now my hands clinch into fists,” the presenter told CNN.

Tweeden’s Poker Face

Tweeden will be known to poker fans for her time as a presenter for NBC. Following Shana Hiatt’s announcement that she was leaving the National Heads-Up Poker Championship to have a baby, Tweeden was brought in as a replacement.

The LA resident started off on the show in 2008 and used her experience working on the Poker Dome Challenge (a poker series that aired on Fox Sports from 2006 to 2007) to her advantage. After building up a rapport with the likes of Phil Hellmuth and Phil Ivey, Tweeden went on to host Poker After Dark.

Although she wasn’t used in the 2017 revival of Poker After Dark, the radio host was part of the cast for four seasons and conducted some of the show’s more memorable interviews.

For fans of the show, her attempts to cool down a steaming Hellmuth is probably the moment they and Tweeden will remember the most.