Sen. Al Franken has been cut out of a TV special honoring comedian David Letterman following an accusation by a former model and Los Angeles radio news host that he kissed and groped her during a USO tour in 2006, according to a report.

The Minnesota Democrat filmed the PBS special “David Letterman: The Mark Twin Prize,” which was scheduled to air Monday, but the network edited him out, TV Line reported on Sunday.

​”​Senator Al Franken participated in the event, but will not appear substantially in the PBS program​. ​… PBS and WETA, the producing station, felt that the inclusion of Senator Franken in the broadcast at this time would distract from the show’s purpose as a celebration of American humor​,” PBS told TV Line.

Franken apologized to Leeann Tweeden for his behavior in 2006, two years before he was elected to the Senate. ​

​”I have tremendous respect for your work for the USO. And I am ashamed that my actions ruined that experience for you. I am so sorry​,” he wrote in a letter to Tweeden.​

Republicans have called for Franken to step down, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee.

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