(CNN) -- Sen. Al Franken apologized Thursday after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell complained he mocked him while the latter was delivering a speech opposing Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.
Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, was presiding over the Senate at the time of the speech, a McConnell aide confirmed to CNN.
"This isn't 'Saturday Night Live,' Al," McConnell warned the former star of the comedy program moments later, according to the McConnell aide who asked not to be identified.
Franken was clearly moved by the confrontation, which occurred in the Senate chamber.
Moments after the vote, he approached a group of CNN reporters standing in a Senate hallway and asked for directions to McConnell's office.
Shortly after, Franken delivered a note to McConnell apologizing for any disrespect, the aide said.
"The leader thought I was disrespectful while he was giving his speech on General Kagan," Franken said in a statement provided to CNN.
"He is entitled to give his speech with the presiding officer just listening respectfully. I went directly to his office after I was done presiding to apologize in person. He wasn't there, so I've sent him a handwritten note."
