Washington, December 8 (RHC)-- In the United States Congress, Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from the state of Minnesota, said he will resign from the Senate “in the coming weeks” amid allegations of sexual harassment.  The announcement came one day after another accusation led a majority of Senate Democrats to call for his resignation. 

Striking a defiant tone in a speech on the Senate floor, Franken defended his political legacy and made clear he was not admitting to the behavior described by his accusers.  Franken also took at aim at President Donald Trump and Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, who have not been forced to step aside despite facing their own allegations of sexual misconduct. 

Al Franken said: “I, of all people, am aware that there is some irony in the fact 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 repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party.”  And he added: “I may be resigning my seat, but I am not giving up my voice.” 

Franken is expected to make his resignation effective at the end of the month, according to a person familiar with his decision, to give time for the governor and his successor to prepare.  That time frame would also allow Franken to stick around for potentially consequential votes on the Republican tax bill, funding the government and potentially the fate of “dreamers,” immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. 

The drive to purge Franken, coming a day after Rep. John Conyers, Jr. resigned under pressure in the House, was a dramatic indication of the political toxicity that has grown around the issue of sexual harassment in recent months.  It also stood as a stark — and deliberate — contrast with how the Republicans are handling a parallel situation in Alabama, where Moore, who will face voters in next week’s special election, is accused by women of pursuing them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. 

Donald Trump, himself the target of multiple allegations of sexual assault, has enthusiastically endorsed Moore, and the Republican Party is once again pouring money into the race after initially pulling back.  Leading Senate Republicans have also toned down their negative comments about Moore, saying his fate should be up to the voters of Alabama and — if he is elected — the Senate Ethics Committee.