Senator Al Franken announced his resignation on Thursday, becoming the highest-ranking US politician yet to step down in the wake of widening allegations of sexual misconduct against powerful men in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, the media and politics.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Franken, who said he would quit in the coming weeks, said: “All women deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously.”
But he said that his response to the sexual misconduct allegations “gave some people the false impression that I was admitting doing things that I hadn’t done. Some of the allegations against me are simply not true. Others I remember differently.”
Serving in the US Senate was, he said “the great honor of my life”.
He went on: “I know in my heart that nothing I have done as a senator – nothing – has brought dishonor on this institution.”
Nevertheless, he said, “I am announcing that in the coming weeks I will be resigning as a member of the United States Senate.”
His decision followed a cascade of calls on Wednesday led by Senate Democratic women who urged Franken, one of their party’s most popular figures, to step down.
“Enough is enough,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said in a lengthy Facebook post that started the wave. “As elected officials, we should be held to the highest standards – not the lowest.”
READ MORE HERE AT TheGuardian.com
How disgusting. The man couldn’t at least apologize to these women, but calls them all liars, or, that’s not exactly as how he remembered it, doing a ‘oh poor me’, then he does his alt left fling at the President. What a Hypocrite!
Hypocrite is correct!
Franken is and always been an Arrogant, Egotistical, self absorbed Little Troll and he is not capable of admitting guilt openly even with Photo Evidence.
Even worse than that is the fact that CNN (Clinton News Network) are doing their best to downplay Franken Forced Resignation by burying the Story deep into each hour by concentrating Reports on Trump Russia Story hoping that by then most viewers will not be paying attention.
Now that GOP Trent Franks is in Hot Water Trent will take up most of each hour and the Franken Story will get even less attention.
I Wonder, is there a Statute of Limitations of perhaps 4 years or so on the Russia Coverage/Investigation?
BTW – Notice that NONE of the Bill Clinton Accusers were on the Time Magazine Cover?
See ya, Stuart Smalley, wouldn’t want to be ya.
Partisans Of the Right and Left should realize the media is on its biggest rush to judgment since the “hands up don’t shoot” frenzy that monopolized cable until the apparent victims’ claims unravelled. I’m no Roy Moore fan, but the non-stop descriptions of him as (alleged) child molester or pedophile are linguistically imprecise and exaggerated. Given the age of his alleged targets (14 to 17) the then-prosecutor could be called ‘pervy’ or ‘creepy.’ Words should matter.
As for Franken, there’s a growing number of conservative pundits such as Ari Fleischer and John Ziegler who argue Senator Al—based on current allegations—is being unfairly coerced to resign by his own party. By throwing Franken under the bus, Dems can play holier than thou in the 2018 midterms.
But at least one observer, lawyer/broadcaster Michael Smerconish wonders if Al may change the script. Chatting with CNN colleague Brooke Baldwin, Smerconish noted how Franken is left himself wiggle room to rescind exit plans if, say, Moore wins the Alabama special election and one or more of Al’s accusers disproven.
Right now, both legislative Houses should draft some guidelines to expedite fair assessment of allegation made against Senators and Representatives.
Roy Moore accuser admits to forged yearbook
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/08/bombshell-roy-moore-accuser-admits-forged-yearbook/
The Apprentice loser and Trump “fake rape” accuser Summer Zervos was bribed $500,000 by Democrat fundraiser and lawyer Gloria Allred to make her accusations against Donald Trump, a deal that was shopped around to other ex-Apprentice contestants too, according to anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
http://www.repulicanoutlook.com/rtgrteaeaww.html
Franken Accusers Unhappy With His Resignation Speech [VIDEO]
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/08/franken-accusers-unhappy-with-his-resignation-speech-video/?utm_medium=email
I do not think that simple ( I mean that with respect) Accusations should be enough for anyone of any Party anywhere to resign.
I have already mentioned the Duke Lacrosse Team that were wrongly accused, at least they had their day in court.
Franken should go and Smerconish is wrong. There is irrefutable Evidence in the Photo of Franken Groping the Tweeden Woman.
I could envision Franken actually running in the By Election next year, I would not put that past him.
Franken has apologized for that action so he has in fact acknowledged his wrong doing.
I do not believe Franken should be seen as guilty of other alleged incidents without irrefutable evidence. or admission of guilt.
Lauer has apologized so there is admission of guilt. He did apologize for actions, I do not believe he or anyone else should be forced to resign or be fired over accusations.
Of course if he really wanted to he could state that the Lock Button on his Door was there for security Reasons but he Did Not!
I wholeheartedly agree that there needs to be a Standard set for almost every work place. I suppose there is but thee must be irrefutable evidence to know the line has been crossed.
I Employ 25 People in Canada and another similar number in the U.S. and I have been as careful as I could over the past many years when it comes to dealing with co-workers.
Having said that I could still be accused right out of the blue by someone at any time and I could be put into a very difficult position.
We also need to keep in mind that this type of Accusation for any Alleged Incident could cost a person their Marriage or Partnership.
Who to believe?
Is it time for Video Monitors in the Work place? What would be wrong with a Camera in the Office of Government Members or other places of Employment where People work together and come into contact with each other.?
I again bring up our own local case here in B.C., John Furlong. Furlong was accused, put through Hell, his life was ruined and he was exonerated,
In fact it was proven that some of the Accusers were not even in the same Town at the same time as Furlong!! Do you think Furlong feels good about being exonerated?
Accusations are not enough, He Said, She Said, is not good enough!
Just the other day my Wife’s Sister who has worked in the Film Industry in The EU, The U.S., and Canada told me of a Producer that Laid Hands on her while she worked at the CBC. She told the guy off and he told her he could have her fired. She old him to Fire Her and then watch what happens. He backed off and it was never again a problem with him.
IMHO it would not be write for anyone to make an accusation about an alleged incident unless there was irrefutable evidence. Sorry.
Roy Moore may not be a good guy but he has denied the accusations and there is no hard evidence to prove the contrary. There is NO evidence other than statements of accusations against Moore.
Even with Cosby, out of the many Accusers many were not even in the same town when they said they were assaulted by Cosby. Then of course thee the several that took Drugs and had repeated visits with Cosby AFTER the Alleged Assaults. That just makes NO sense.
It makes me sick that CNN are referring to him as a Child Molester and Pedophile!!
I am a Pro Choice Person within reason, say 3 months but I would still vote for Moore over Jones.
This is a very difficult problem to solve and I believe more Video Monitoring is called for in the Work Place.
Of course we would then have Civil Liberty Genius’s like David Eby speaking out against that.
I believe Rules of Behavior/Guidelines are already in place and we are all protected by the Rule of Law and the Constitution, it is simply a matter of providing protection for both the Accuser and the Accused and He Said, She Said doe not cut it in my World!!
Contrary to most I DO NOT see the Dems doing very well in the 2018 Mids but they are still a year away.
CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and the rest look like they are working too hard for the Dems and they are alienating Millions of Americans and they cannot get it through their head that HRC lost the 2016 Election and she is old news.
Soon enough those Networks I just mentioned will be forced to begin to Report on the Tainted Mueller Investigation and it will not bode well for the Dems.