WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement today on allegations concerning Senator Al Franken of Minnesota:

“Sexual harassment and sexual assault are unacceptable and must not be tolerated.  Period.

“It took courage for the individual who came forward with these allegations to do so, and she deserves to be heard, believed, and treated with respect.  I hope the Senate Ethics Committee will do a swift and thorough investigation and publicly share their findings.

“We can’t just look away from these types of incidents.  We need to change the culture that has too often enabled or permitted sexual harassment and assault.  It is on all of us as a society.”