Six Democratic women Senators call on Franken to step down in the wake of sexual harassment allegations pic.twitter.com/l0D5DmYwvt
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 6, 2017
Hours after a seventh woman accused Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota) of sexual assault (which he promptly denied), many of his Senate and party colleagues began calling for his resignation. What’s more, the multiple calls for Franken’s resignation — which were apparently instigated in a Facebook post by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) — have largely come from female politicians. “While Senator Franken is entitled to have the Ethics Committee conclude its review,” she wrote, “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.”
According to NBC News, six more female Democratic senators have followed in Gillibrand’s footsteps and issued statements of their own calling for Franken’s resignation. Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kamala Harris (D-California), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) “all put out statements within minutes of each other” asking for pretty much the same thing. Along with former Fox News personality Gretchen Carlson and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), they gave a press conference to announce the statements and a new bill, “Ending Force Arbitration of Sexual Harassment.”
Al Franken should resign.
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) December 6, 2017
It is clear that Al Franken has engaged in a pattern of egregious and unacceptable behavior toward women. He should resign.
— Sen. Maggie Hassan (@SenatorHassan) December 6, 2017
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.
It’s time for him to step aside.
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) December 6, 2017
Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere. I believe the best thing for Senator Franken to do is step down.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) December 6, 2017
Today, I am calling on my colleague Al Franken to step aside. I’ve struggled with this decision because he’s been a good Senator and I consider him a friend. But that cannot excuse his behavior and his mistreatment of women. (thread)
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) December 6, 2017
I believe it is best for Senator Franken to resign.
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) December 6, 2017
UPDATE #1: Shortly after these female Democratic senators announced their calls for Franken’s resignation, several of their male colleagues did the same. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) issued separate tweets and statements demanding that Franken step down.
I agree with my colleagues who have stepped forward today and called on Senator Franken to resign. We can’t just believe women when it’s convenient.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) December 6, 2017
Joe is calling for Senator Franken to resign. pic.twitter.com/ff5i1rnhJs
— Archive: Senator Joe Donnelly (@SenDonnelly) December 6, 2017
We have a serious problem in this country with sexual harassment and assault – in Congress, in Hollywood, in business, in the military – everywhere.
— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) December 6, 2017
Democratic National Convention Chairman Tom Perez also joined in the growing call, saying “[e]veryone must share the responsibility of building a culture of trust and respect for women in every industry and workplace, and that includes our party.”
Sen. Al Franken should step down. Everyone must share the responsibility of building a culture of trust and respect for women in every industry and workplace, and that includes our party.
— Tom Perez (@TomPerez) December 6, 2017
UPDATE #2: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) joined the growing call for Franken’s resignation with a brief Twitter statement.
Sexual harassment is unacceptable. I believe Senator Franken should do the right thing and resign.
— Sen. Debbie Stabenow (@SenStabenow) December 6, 2017
UPDATE #3: According to the Associated Press, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) says he “[expects] that Senator Franken will announce his resignation tomorrow.”
BREAKING: Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden: `I expect that Senator Franken will announce his resignation tomorrow'
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 6, 2017
UPDATE #4: CNN now reports at least 28 Democratic senators, 13 women and 15 men, have called on Franken to resign form his Senate seat.
(Via NBC News)