Franken notes ‘irony’ of exit with incumbent in Oval Office

US SENATOR Al Franken, a rising political star only weeks ago, reluctantly announced yesterday he’s resigning from Congress, succumbing to a torrent of sexual harassment allegations and evaporating support from fellow Democrats.

But he fired a defiant parting shot at President Donald Trump and other Republicans he said have survived much worse accusations.

“I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office, and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party,” Franken said.

The 66-year-old, a former ‘Saturday Night Live’ comedian who made a successful leap to liberal US senator, announced his decision in a subdued Senate chamber three weeks after the first accusations emerged.

His remarks underscored the bitterness many in the party feel toward a GOP that they say has made a political calculation to tolerate Trump and Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, who’ve both been accused of sexual assaults that they’ve denied.

In largely unapologetic remarks that lasted 11 minutes, Franken said “all women deserve to be heard”. He added: “I may be resigning my seat, but I am not giving up my voice.”