Rape survivor Abby Honold, who worked with Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., on a bill, wants a different sponsor in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against Franken, according to The Washington Post.
The Senate bill would give federal funding for law enforcement training on interviewing trauma victims. Franken had planned to introduce the bill this month, The Post reported.
"He was one of the few people who listened to me and actually let me talk. It felt really validating to be heard and to see something come out of my experience that was positive for other people," Honold told The Post.
"It's really difficult when someone who has been a champion for you turns out to be the exact opposite for someone else," Honold said in a phone interview.
After Honold contacted Franken's staff, they agreed that it would be good to find another sponsor for the bill "in light of everything else going on," Honold said in The Post.
She had planned to visit D.C. to testify and advocate for the bill after it was introduced. "That part of it was really a crushing blow, that we wouldn't get that moment in a couple of weeks," Honold said.
The senator has been an advocate for rape survivors, including criticizing Harvey Weinstein after the harassment allegations against him, The Post reported.
Honold, who now gives speeches to high schools and other groups in support of rape survivors, said she hoped another Minnesota lawmaker, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, would pick up the bill.
"It would be powerful to have this bill sponsored by a female legislator," Honold said in The Post.
"I don't want this bill, which could help so many people, to be associated with this kind of behavior," Honold said on KSTP-TV.
She posted a tweet Thursday saying she would continue supporting the legislation.
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