Senators Privately Urge Franken Not To Resign: Politico

WASHINGTON, DC — At least four U.S. senators have urged Sen. Al Franken to reconsider stepping down from the Senate despite claims that he groped several women over the course of a decade, Politico reported Monday. The Minnesota senator announced his impending resignation two weeks ago as many of his colleagues called on him to leave; now, two of the lawmakers who asked Franken to step down are among those who think he should reevaluate the move, according to the report. In his announcement, Franken did not specify a date for when he would step down.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who did not call for Franken’s resignation as the sexual misconduct claims were made against him, told Politico Franken’s ouster was, “the most hypocritical thing I’ve ever seen done to a human being — and then have enough guts to sit on the floor, watch him give his speech and go over and hug him? That’s hypocrisy at the highest level I’ve ever seen in my life. Made me sick.”

Another senator who spoke with the publication on the condition of anonymity said, “In retrospect, I think we acted too fast.” And Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy also expressed regret for calling on Franken to step down, two people familiar with the situation told Politico.

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