Vermont lawmaker Patrick Leahy was late to this morning's meeting of the Senate Judiciary committee — and it was all Minnesota senator Al Franken's fault.
Well, actually, it was Franni Franken's fault. Leahy was detained because he was busy eating one of her famous pies.
"Mrs. Franken makes some of the greatest pies in the world," Leahy said, kicking the meeting off on a light note. "I was coming by and one's sitting on the table in the back, and it was saying 'Hi.'"
Leahy asked Franken to pass his thanks on to Franni and added that, while the pie ruined his diet, it was "well worth the stop."
Franni Franken, nicknamed the "pie lady," is well-known for her culinary prowess. In addition to making the occasional treat for senators, she's also offered up pies as fundraising rewards and e-mailed Thanksgiving recipes to supporters in the past.
Hayley Tsukayama is an intern in the Star Tribune's Washington bureau.
