Sen. Al Franken returned to work Monday and said at a press conference he's "tremendously sorry" for his role in sexual misconduct allegations made against him.
Franken said: "I know that I've let a lot of people down. People of Minnesota, my colleagues, my staff, my supporters and everyone who has counted on me to be a champion for women."
But he's not stepping down from his post. He said he wants to begin earning back his constituents' trust.
Franken said, "I'm ready to start that process, and it starts with going back to work today."
The senator is being accused by multiple women of groping or kissing them without consent. He's asked Congress to conduct an ethics investigation into him.
The allegations began with Los Angeles TV and radio host Leeann Tweeden. She said Franken, who was a comedian at the time, "kissed and groped" her without consent on a 2006 USO tour.
That was followed by more accusations, two from anonymous women, that Franken had groped people before and during his political career.
Franken said in a statement to HuffPost, "It's difficult to respond to anonymous accusers and I don't remember those campaign events."
Franken said Monday he remembers the events detailed in Tweeden's allegation differently, but he added, "You have to respect womens' experience."
