First Senate Democrats call on Al Franken to resign

Multiple female senators stepped forward Wednesday to become the first Senate Democrats to call on their colleague Sen. Al Franken to resign. Within minutes of each other, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Patty Murray of Washington, Mazie Keiko Hirono of Hawaii, Maggie Hassen of New Hampshire and Kamala Harris of California released statements and social media posts in the wake of the growing number of women alleging Franken sexually harassed them. 

“While Senator Franken is entitled to have the Ethics Committee conclude its review, I believe 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 by stepping aside to let someone else serve,” Gillibrand said in a Facebook statement. “In the wake of the election of President Trump, in just the last few months, our society is changing, and I encourage women and men to keep speaking up to continue this progress. At this moment, we need to speak hard truths or lose our chance to make lasting change.”

“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,” Harris said on Twitter. 

McCaskill put her statement quite simply: “Al Franken should resign,” she tweeted. 

A handful of Democrats on the House side also called on Franken to resign Wednesday. Their statements come after yet another woman alleged Franken tried to forcibly kiss her against her will. 

The growing call for Franken to resign also comes as TIME Magazine announced it will name “The Silence Breakers” — women who came forward to call out sexual harassment, misconduct and assault — as their “Person of the Year.”

The call on Franken to resign comes after Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, announced his retirement from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations.