Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Celerity

(55,532 posts)
57. Some of the accusers were Democrats, including a Dem staffer. Years ago I did a deep dive and the only Democratic
Wed Jul 8, 2026, 03:18 AM
15 hrs ago

US Senators active at that time who did not tell Franken in public or in private to resign were 5, and of those 5, only Manchin said he should not resign.

3 of the other 4 (Coons, Schatz, and Shaheen) were on the Senate Ethics Committee and could not comment either way.

The 5th of the five was the now convicted and imprisoned Menendez, who was under indictment and refused to comment.

Other than Manchin, those other 4, if not on the Ethics Committee or under indictment would have joined every other Dem (except for Manchin) and called for Franken to resign.

The group of Dem women Senators met and coordinated for a couple weeks or so before they all came out, basically at the same time, with Gillibrand first by a few minutes and then follwed by many others. Schumer was well aware of what they all would do and almost for sure signed off on it.

I am not a complete fan of Gillibrand for other reasons that have occurred more recently, but she has been unfairly made into the sole main scapegoat by many over the years, as if without her none of it would have happened. That is simply not based in reality IMHO.

Women senators coordinated calls for Al Franken to resign

‘Their patience had worn incredibly thin’: How the dam broke on Al Franken

https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/senators-al-franken-resignation



Nearly three weeks after sexual harassment allegations first emerged against Sen. Al Franken, a wave of Democratic senators — in coordination and following a flurry of text messages and phone calls — called for his resignation in rapid succession Wednesday morning.

Starting around 11:30 a.m. ET, the senators posted statements in a coordinated effort, one after the other, on social media, saying the Minnesota Democrat should step down.



Some comments were elaborate, lengthy and loaded with a moral message. Others, like that of Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, were straight to the point. “Al Franken should resign,” she simply tweeted.

Within the next 90 minutes, 16 Democrats – 10 of them women – and one Republican senator – Susan Collins of Maine – had publicly urged their colleague to vacate his seat. Capitol Hill had been on edge for weeks as more accusations were made public and as an ethics investigation was looming, yet no one had publicly called for Franken’s resignation.


Democrats stampede to drive Sen. Franken from office amid sexual misconduct allegations

Democratic women led the charge of more than two dozen senators calling on their embattled colleague, Sen. Al Franken, to resign.


https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/democratic-women-senators-call-franken-resign-amid-sexual-misconduct-allegations-n827036

Democratic women on Wednesday led the charge of more than two dozen senators who called on their embattled colleague, Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, to resign after multiple women accused him of harassment or sexual misconduct. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Kamala Harris of California, Patty Murray of Washington and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin kicked off the stampede on Wednesday, all putting out statements within minutes of one another saying it was time for Franken to go.

By the evening, at least 35 Democrats — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York — were calling on him to quit, and Franken's office said the senator was planning an announcement from the Senate floor Thursday morning at 11:45. Some fellow Democrats said they believe he will announce he is resigning. The flood of calls came just one day after Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat who has also been accused of sexual misconduct, announced he was resigning following calls from leaders in his own party to quit.

Gillibrand was the first woman in the Senate to call on Franken to quit, writing in a lengthy Facebook post that "enough is enough" when it came to her Minnesota colleague. "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," she wrote.

Her note was quickly followed by tweets from McCaskill — who posted "Al Franken should resign" — and Hassan, who wrote, "It is clear that Al Franken has engaged in a pattern of egregious and unacceptable behavior toward women." Within moments, Harris had tweeted, "Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere" and that "the best thing for Senator Franken to do is step down," while Hirono referred to the choice by Time magazine to name "The Silence Breakers" of the #MeToo movement as its 2017 Person of the Year on Wednesday in calling on Franken to quit.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Why hasn't Platner ended his campaign yet? leftstreet Yesterday #1
He thinks he can... 2naSalit Yesterday #2
Wow. That seems a bit Trumpy leftstreet Yesterday #4
Indeed... 2naSalit Yesterday #7
Is he another Fetterman? Fetterman is a Democrat only by registration, but his heart and mind are somewhere else. Escurumbele Yesterday #29
Couldn't tell ya... 2naSalit Yesterday #36
It always appeared that way to me ... n/t wackadoo wabbit 19 hrs ago #55
Yea, he's a control freak, thinks he still has options. WinningAgain Yesterday #11
However, because of the rules, he does have leverage karynnj Yesterday #13
The next... 2naSalit Yesterday #15
Um. He won the primary. He can't be replaced unless/until he agrees to drop out. Wiz Imp Yesterday #18
Right... 2naSalit Yesterday #33
Full primary results GJGCA Yesterday #20
Freudian slip? ABC123Easy Yesterday #42
Jimminy that's embarrassing GJGCA Yesterday #43
Don't be embarrassed ABC123Easy 23 hrs ago #49
If that's what Maine wants karynnj Yesterday #21
Given those numbers... 2naSalit Yesterday #34
People love to vote for their second choice. AloeVera Yesterday #38
ranked choice voting! that is why it exists. rampartd 22 hrs ago #53
Thanks... 2naSalit 21 hrs ago #54
That's a question for him. He is not required to drop out. Wiz Imp Yesterday #19
I know. He should think of his supporters leftstreet Yesterday #22
He's making this all about him, not about Maine or the party mcar Yesterday #25
Maybe he'll recognize the inevitable when the Dem money spigot dries up MorbidButterflyTat Yesterday #47
Ralph Northam playbook n/t Shrek Yesterday #24
Cuomo never stepped aside, even after he was kicked out for his allegations MakeThemCry Yesterday #32
But you just explained it leftstreet Yesterday #41
The party shouldn't have supported Cuomo either EdmondDantes_ Yesterday #44
Color me shocked pinkstarburst Yesterday #46
Reactions have been swift Torchlight Yesterday #3
Actually, it can be become a strength for the next candidate: "Unlike Susan Collins.... 68er Yesterday #5
Oh, snap! mwmisses4289 Yesterday #30
His detractor list... 2naSalit Yesterday #9
! MorbidButterflyTat Yesterday #48
Yeah, he's toast. Wednesdays Yesterday #6
Is there time for him to register as a Republican? usonian Yesterday #8
I think in today's political climate... kentuck Yesterday #12
So sorry to say, you're right. usonian Yesterday #16
Without Bernie, he will have lost a huge source of support... kentuck Yesterday #10
The fact that Bernie spoke with Platner personally about this matters Tom Rinaldo Yesterday #14
Dire consequences for Vermont? DFW Yesterday #26
Well, you know, all those small New England States are pretty much the same... Tom Rinaldo Yesterday #27
the dire consequences of Susan Collins retaining her seat eShirl Yesterday #31
"Bernie Sanders joins Democrats' calls for Graham Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race as window to replace him narr orleans Yesterday #17
Bernie needs to vet people *before* endorsing, rather than cleaning up Maru Kitteh Yesterday #23
From December 6, 2017: DFW Yesterday #40
December 7, 2017 + December 6, 2017 Celerity 23 hrs ago #52
There were 33 Democratic Senators that urged Al to resign. DFW 16 hrs ago #56
Some of the accusers were Democrats, including a Dem staffer. Years ago I did a deep dive and the only Democratic Celerity 15 hrs ago #57
I saw who they were and where they came from. DFW 12 hrs ago #59
It's about damned time. NT abbeyco Yesterday #28
Didn't someone explain to Platner LilElf70 Yesterday #35
I'm scared about more than Graham Platner OddMom20 Yesterday #37
If those that live in Maine want him then he should stay. They in Maine should decide for Maine. dave99 Yesterday #39
I remember quite vividly what happened the last time Dr. T Yesterday #45
I think that being a state election, and one with a small population, changing candidates now... Raftergirl 23 hrs ago #50
It worked when NJ swapped Torrecelli out and Lautenberg in karynnj 23 hrs ago #51
Be nice if Sen Sanders had another Cha 15 hrs ago #58
Platner had a relationship with Sanders prior to securing the nomination. QueerDuck 12 hrs ago #60
Hi QD, I'd like to discuss Cha 11 hrs ago #61
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»New from Bernie Sanders: ...»Reply #57