Minnesota Democrat Al Franken, facing fresh allegations of sexual misconduct and vanishing support from fellow Democrats, appears to be on the brink of resigning from the Senate.
Franken scheduled an announcement for Thursday, though his office tweeted Wednesday evening that he had not made 'a final decision' on resigning.
But a majority of the Senate's Democrats called on the two-term lawmaker to quit after a woman emerged Wednesday morning saying he forcibly tried to kiss her in 2006. Hours later, another woman said Franken inappropriately squeezed 'a handful of flesh' on her waist while posing for a photo with her in 2009. That brought the number of women alleging misconduct by Franken to at least eight.
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Career deathwatch: Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken will speak on the Senate floor Thursday morning and is expected to resign following a string of sexual harassment allegations
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Accused again: After the first allegation by radio broadcaster Leeann Tweeden, who produced this notorious photograph, Al Franken had a steady drip of follow-up accusers
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Lindsay Menz (left) claims Franken grabbed her rear end while they posed for this photograph
Franken, the former comedian who made his name on 'Saturday Night Live,' faces a chorus of calls to step aside, and Democratic senators said they expected their liberal colleague to resign.
'Enough is enough,' said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. 'We need to draw a line in the sand and say none of it is OK, none of it is acceptable, and we, as elected leaders, should absolutely be held to a higher standard.'
Gillibrand was the first to call for Franken's resignation on Wednesday, but a torrent of Democrats quickly followed.
'I'm shocked and appalled by Sen. Franken's behavior,' said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state. 'It's clear to me that this has been a deeply harmful, persistent problem and a clear pattern over a long period of time. It's time for him to step aside.'
Though the writing appeared to be on the wall, Franken's departure was not certain. A tweet posted Wednesday evening on Franken's Twitter account said: 'Senator Franken is talking with his family at this time and plans to make an announcement in D.C. tomorrow. Any reports of a final decision are inaccurate.'
Late in the day, Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York added his voice.
Franken scheduled an announcement for Thursday, though his office tweeted Wednesday evening that he had not made 'a final decision' on resigning.
But a majority of the Senate's Democrats called on the two-term lawmaker to quit after a woman emerged Wednesday morning saying he forcibly tried to kiss her in 2006. Hours later, another woman said Franken inappropriately squeezed 'a handful of flesh' on her waist while posing for a photo with her in 2009. That brought the number of women alleging misconduct by Franken to at least eight.
+8
Career deathwatch: Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken will speak on the Senate floor Thursday morning and is expected to resign following a string of sexual harassment allegations
+8
Accused again: After the first allegation by radio broadcaster Leeann Tweeden, who produced this notorious photograph, Al Franken had a steady drip of follow-up accusers
+8
Lindsay Menz (left) claims Franken grabbed her rear end while they posed for this photograph
Franken, the former comedian who made his name on 'Saturday Night Live,' faces a chorus of calls to step aside, and Democratic senators said they expected their liberal colleague to resign.
'Enough is enough,' said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. 'We need to draw a line in the sand and say none of it is OK, none of it is acceptable, and we, as elected leaders, should absolutely be held to a higher standard.'
Gillibrand was the first to call for Franken's resignation on Wednesday, but a torrent of Democrats quickly followed.
'I'm shocked and appalled by Sen. Franken's behavior,' said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state. 'It's clear to me that this has been a deeply harmful, persistent problem and a clear pattern over a long period of time. It's time for him to step aside.'
Though the writing appeared to be on the wall, Franken's departure was not certain. A tweet posted Wednesday evening on Franken's Twitter account said: 'Senator Franken is talking with his family at this time and plans to make an announcement in D.C. tomorrow. Any reports of a final decision are inaccurate.'
Late in the day, Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York added his voice.