DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Admiral Mike Franken is denying allegations he kissed a former staffer without her consent earlier this year.
A police report filed in April 2022 details what the accuser claims happened.
The Des Moines police report filed for assault by Kimberley Strope-Boggus redacts the name of the person she accused of grabbing her by "...the collar of the vest she was wearing and kissed her on her mouth" outside of a bar.
Conservative news outlet Iowa Field Report first reported the story, naming Franken as the accused.
According to the police report, Strope-Boggus said she was Franken's campaign manager and staffer until she was fired at the end of February 2022.
Local 5 reached out to Franken's campaign.
His current campaign manager, Julie Stauch, sent the following statement:
"These allegations are false. This accusation was investigated by the Des Moines police department and the Polk County Attorney's Office who found no wrongdoing and closed the case as unfounded."
On Monday, at a town hall in Cedar Rapids, The Gazette's Tom Barton reported Franken told him the candidate claims he met with Strope-Boggus "at her request" and he had "one beer", while continuing to deny the allegations.
The Des Moines Police Department echoes Franken's statement in part, saying the Polk County Attorney's Office did not find enough sufficient evidence showing any wrongdoing and closed the case as "unfounded".
The Gazette also reported Franken said Des Moines police never interviewed him regarding these allegations.
Franken is running against longtime Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.