Assault allegations raised against US Senate candidate Mike Franken
Iowa Field Report, a conservative political website, is reporting that a former campaign staffer for Mike Franken, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, said he assaulted her earlier this year.
Kimberley Strope-Boggus worked on Franken's campaign until she says she was fired at the end of February.
Strope-Boggus filed a report with Des Moines police in April. She claimed she was assaulted outside a Des Moines bar in March.
The name of the person she accused is redacted in the police report, but Iowa Field Report is reporting that Franken is the person being accused.
According to the police report, Strope-Boggus told police that her assailant “grabbed the collar of the vest she was wearing and kissed her on the mouth” before she could “pull away” from him.
The report also says she told police that “this was something that he has done to several other women.”
Des Moines police determined there was insufficient information and evidence to pursue a criminal investigation and closed the case as unfounded.
KCCI asked the Franken campaign to confirm whether Franken is the subject of the police report.
Franken’s current campaign manager responded in a statement writing, “these allegations are false. The 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.”
Franken was in Cedar Rapids for a campaign event on Monday. A reporter from the Cedar Rapids Gazette tweeted that "Franken says he had 'one beer' with Strope-Boggus at a Des Moines bar 'at her request' and repeatedly denied any unwanted advances and description of events alleged in the report."
The Cedar Rapids Gazette also reports that Franken said he was never interviewed by Des Moines Police.
KCCI has reached out to Strope-Boggus for comment but we have not heard back.
Republican Party of Iowa Communications Director Kollin Crompton released a statement writing, "This report brings to light some very disturbing behavior. Iowans have questions Mike Franken needs to answer."
KCCI reached out to the Iowa Democratic Party for comment but has not heard back.
Franken is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Charles Grassley. The most recent Des Moines Register-Mediacom Iowa Poll, released in July, shows Grassley leading Franken — 47% to 39% among likely voters. Election day is Nov. 8.