Report: Senators Urge Al Franken To Reconsider His Resignation
- 6 years ago
A number of Senators have reportedly urged Democratic Sen. Al Franken to reconsider his resignation.
A number of Senators have reportedly urged Democratic Sen. Al Franken to reconsider his resignation.
Among them is Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia who, during an interview on Politico's podcast 'Off Message,' criticized the Democrats who rushed to call for Franken to step down.
"What they did to Al was atrocious," Manchin said.
"Here's a man, that all he said [was], 'Take me through the Ethics Committee. I will live by whatever decision and I will walk away thinking about this opportunity I've had while I was here. But you find out if I'm a predator,'" he further noted.
Politico spoke with other Democratic Senators who expressed similar sentiments, but asked to remain anonymous.
Franken announced on December 7 and amid numerous allegations of sexual impropriety that he will be resigning.
When doing so, he pointed out the "irony" in his situation, saying that his decision to step down comes "while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assaults 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."
NPR notes that "Franken was referring to President Trump, who has faced accusations of sexual misconduct that he denies, and...Roy Moore, a Republican."
It remains unclear when Franken will formally resign, but, according to sources who spoke with Politico, he still intends to despite the support he's recently been given.
His replacement has already been named, and a process appears to be in place.
"Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) on Wednesday announced he planned to appoint his lieutenant, Tina Smith, to fill the Senate seat vacated by Al Franken," the Huffington Post reports.
A number of Senators have reportedly urged Democratic Sen. Al Franken to reconsider his resignation.
Among them is Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia who, during an interview on Politico's podcast 'Off Message,' criticized the Democrats who rushed to call for Franken to step down.
"What they did to Al was atrocious," Manchin said.
"Here's a man, that all he said [was], 'Take me through the Ethics Committee. I will live by whatever decision and I will walk away thinking about this opportunity I've had while I was here. But you find out if I'm a predator,'" he further noted.
Politico spoke with other Democratic Senators who expressed similar sentiments, but asked to remain anonymous.
Franken announced on December 7 and amid numerous allegations of sexual impropriety that he will be resigning.
When doing so, he pointed out the "irony" in his situation, saying that his decision to step down comes "while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assaults 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."
NPR notes that "Franken was referring to President Trump, who has faced accusations of sexual misconduct that he denies, and...Roy Moore, a Republican."
It remains unclear when Franken will formally resign, but, according to sources who spoke with Politico, he still intends to despite the support he's recently been given.
His replacement has already been named, and a process appears to be in place.
"Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) on Wednesday announced he planned to appoint his lieutenant, Tina Smith, to fill the Senate seat vacated by Al Franken," the Huffington Post reports.