Democrats calling on Franken to resign
Minnesota senator accused of harassment plans response Thursday
WASHINGTON – Sen. Al Franken’s political career is in peril after dozens of his Democratic Senate colleagues called on him to resign his seat amid a slew of accusations of sexual harassment and groping.
The Minnesota lawmaker’s office says he is planning to respond Thursday.
Democrats were already using their unified condemnation as a contrast with the Republican Party’s support for President Donald Trump, who’s been accused by several women of similar behavior, and Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, an accused child molester who this week received an endorsement from Trump and cash from the Republican National Committee.
Hours after a report by Politico about a new accuser, senators including Patty Murray of Washington, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kamala Harris of California and Sherrod Brown of Ohio said the Minnesota lawmaker must go.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin on Wednesday also called on Franken to resign.
“I believe it is best for Senator Franken to resign,” Baldwin tweeted.
Baldwin gave $20,000 that had been contributed to her by Franken’s political action committee to a charity for female veterans.
Politico cited an unnamed Democratic congressional aide who said Franken cornered her in a studio in 2006 and forcibly tried to kiss her. Franken was elected in 2008 and had a long career as a comedian before that.
“I’m shocked and appalled by Senator Franken’s behavior. It’s clear to me that this has been a deeply harmful, persistent problem and a clear pattern over a long period of time,” Murray said in a statement. “It’s time for him to step aside.”
“While Senator Franken is entitled to have the Ethics Committee conclude its review, I believe it would be better for our country if he sent a clear message that any kind of mistreatment of women in our society isn’t acceptable by stepping aside to let someone else serve,” Gillibrand posted on Facebook.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also weighed in: “The near daily barrage of allegations of sexual misconduct against Senator Franken are extremely concerning to all of us in the Senate . ... I do not believe he can effectively serve the people of Minnesota in the U.S. Senate any longer.”
The Republican leader, who initially suggested the Senate would expel Moore if he were elected next week, has since said Moore’s future is “up to the people of Alabama.”
According to the Politico report, Franken approached the aide after her boss had left the broadcast studio. She said she was gathering her belongings when she turned around to find Franken in her face, attempting to kiss her. The two did not know each other.
Franken was the first sitting lawmaker in Washington to be publicly accused. A Senate ethics panel opened a preliminary inquiry after at least six women accused Franken of groping and other unwelcome conduct.
Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the longest-serving member of the House, announced his resignation Tuesday in the wake of multiple sexual harassment claims against him.
Franken has apologized and said he welcomes an ethics investigation even as his spokesman released a statement saying he “has never intentionally engaged in this kind of conduct.”
Stephanie Kemplin of Ohio, who says Franken cupped her breast as the two posed for a photo in 2003 while she was stationed with the Army in Kuwait, is the most recent named accuser to come forward.