Al Franken announces resignation following allegations of inappropriate behavior
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced his resignation "in the coming weeks" Thursday after two more women came forward Wednesday to allege he had inappropriately touched them. "I am aware of the irony 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 preyed on underage girls is running for the Senate with the full support of his party," Franken told his colleagues from the Senate floor.
Franken has been accused by eight women in total and by Wednesday, more than three dozen Democratic senators were calling for him to resign. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) will name Franken's replacement for the intervening days until a 2018 special election, and sources familiar with his thinking say the likely choice will be Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D).
Franken added that "I may be resigning my seat but I am not giving up my voice. I will continue to stand up for the things I believe in as a citizen and as an activist." Watch his comments in full below.