Flashback: Franken lectures GOP on sexual harassment, backs 'vulnerable women who've been wronged

Amid Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken's apology Thursday following Leeann Tweeden's accusation that he kissed and groped her without permission in 2006, Franken's past words — very public ones at that — are being scrutinized.

Take for example his March 6 remarks on the Senate floor, in which he chided Republicans — and President Donald Trump — over what Franken called an effort to "dismantle the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive order and roll back protections for workers."

During his remarks, Franken paid special attention to an amendment he successfully introduced in 2009 to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act that prevented certain DoD contractors from "forcing their employees to arbitrate claims of discrimination or sexual assault and harassment."

Then came Franken's lecture to the GOP on sexual harassment. And it's not likely to go down in history — given what's come to light today — as one of the senator's most self-aware moments:

"According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, at least 25 percent of American women say they have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. And recent high profile revelations about abuse — for example, former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes’ abuse of his employees, as well as the allegations of sex bias at Kay and Sterling Jewelers — demonstrate that we are far from addressing this issue on a broader scale. So I urge my Republican colleagues to reconsider their support for this resolution. I urge them to not force vulnerable women who have been wronged into the dark and into forced arbitration."

Here's the clip:

(H/T: Louder with Crowder)