Sarah Palin says she doesn't get sexually harassed because she carries a gun

US politician replies when asked if she had ever experienced sexual harassment in the workplace

American politician and vice presidential nominee for the 2008 general election in the United States Sarah Palin has said that she does not get sexually harassed because she always carries a gun around with her.

"Have you ever experienced sexual harassment in the workplace as a ambitious woman in public life?" US-based MSNBC network asked Palin with regard to the recent sexual misconduct allegations against Minnesota Senator Al Franken.

"You know, I think a whole lot people know that I’m probably ‘packing’ – so, I don’t think there’s a whole lot of people who would necessarily mess with me," she replied.

However, she also said she condemns sexual harassment.

Watch Sarah Palin's response to NBC News correspondent @kasie asking if she's ever experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. pic.twitter.com/uvbFYeonsc

— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) November 19, 2017

The former governor for the state of Alaska went on to say: "And, I don’t mean to be lighthearted about it, because it’s a serious issue," adding, "It really stinks for women in the workplace that, for too long, men have thought that they can get away with kind of being that that old-school thinking that it’s OK to belittle and harass women, in general."

Palin's remarks came a short while after Democrat Al Franken was accused of sexual misconduct by Leeann Tweeden, a KABC radio personality.

Al Franken became the first currently-serving senator in the US to come under allegations of sexual harassment. Before entering politics, he was a star of the popular television comedy Saturday Night Live.



Franken is alleged to have forced a kiss onto the accuser's face while groping her as she slept during a tour of Afghanistan in 2006.

She wrote. "I felt violated all over again. Embarrassed. Belittled. Humiliated."

Franken initially responded by saying: “While I don't remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe women’s experiences."

He later issued a longer apology, saying: “I don't know what was in my head when I took that picture, and it doesn't matter. There's no excuse.”

"It's not a partisan issue," Palin continued. "When we see this happening today, I think it leads to a lot of questions about what standards are going to be applied to whom."

The article originally appeared in The Telegraph