The Washington Free Beacon| October 17, 2022

"Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Mike Franken is pitching himself as a politician who 'knows how to get things done in Washington.' But when it comes to the details of what he's done and what role he held in doing it, things get a little hazy.

Franken told voters in August during a campaign stop that he served as former president Barack 'Obama's chief of legislative affairs.' He also said in March that he "pushed bills across the floor as an authorizer and appropriator" for the Department of Defense, according to a video obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. The retired U.S. Navy vice admiral did work in the department under Obama, but held neither of these positions.

Rather, Franken was head of the Defense Department's Navy Office of Legislative Affairs during the Obama administration, and had a stint as a legislative aide to former senator Ted Kennedy (D., Mass.). Obama's legislative affairs directors were Phil Schiliro, Rob Nabors, Miguel Rodriguez, Katie Beirne Fallon, and Amy Rosenbaum. The Navy office Franken served in does not handle appropriation matters, according to its website.

A spokesman for Franken's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

The résumé padding comes as Franken is fighting off allegations concerning his record of sexual misconduct. The Iowa Democrat in March forcibly kissed his former campaign manager, according to police records recently made public by the Iowa Field Report. Others close to the situation told PoliticoFranken had also made them uncomfortable or 'frequently crossed boundaries with women" in the past.'"

Read the full story here. 

###