Shortly after Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., announced his resignation on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said his colleague “made the right decision.”
Franken has faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and a majority of Senate Democrats called for his resignation on Wednesday. Blumenthal was not among them, preferring to wait to comment until after Franken addressed the issue.
“The conversation about sexual harassment and assault must continue vigorously, and so should meaningful action against it,” he said in a written statement issued moments after Franken spoke. “We must continue to listen to the incredibly courageous women and men across the nation who have come forward. Sexual harassment and assault needs to be stopped wherever and whenever it occurs – it continues to be far too prevalent in every sphere of American life.”
Sen. Chris Murphy was among those who had called for Franken’s resignation a day earlier. Both men returned campaign contributions they received from Franken’s political action committee when the first sexual misconduct allegation was reported.
“It’s become clear that I can’t both pursue the Ethics Committee process and at the same time remain an effective senator for them,” Franken told his colleagues late Thursday morning. “Let me be clear. I may be resigning my seat, but I am not giving up my voice. I will continue to stand up for the things I believe in as a citizen and as an activist.”
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