I think the senators like the optics. (Image via Twitter)
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota) has drawn yet another accuser — this time, a former Democratic aide (anonymous) who claims he tried to force a kiss on her in 2006 and said quote It's my right as an entertainer unquote, a charge he categorically denies —and it appears to be the straw that will break the camel's back.
Now, several female Democratic senators are calling on Franken to resign, including: ...
Via Huff Post:
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York)
Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
Kamala Harris (D-California)
Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)
Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire)
Patty Murray (D-Washington)
UPDATE: A slew of female and male Democratic senators have now called on Franken to resign:
Democratic Senators calling for Franken's resignation:
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 6, 2017
Feinstein
Harris
Bennet
Carper
Hirono
Durbin
Donnelly
Markey
Warren
Stabenow
McCaskill
Heitkamp
Hassan
Heinrich
Gillibrand
Brown
Merkley
Casey
Leahy
Cantwell
Murray
Baldwin
Wydenhttps://t.co/AK5jY9zEiq
I really think this is unfortunate. I think the accusations of handsy behavior are gross but hardly firing offenses, and I flat out don't believe he told a woman it is his right as an entertainer to force kisses on people. I don't know why she would lie, but I don't believe it.
I believe most accusations of sexual abuse because most are, historically, true.
But I think the concept that we should believe ALL accusations and give them the same weight is frightening and un-American. For example, I for damn sure believe Trump's accusers, but the woman who said he was inappropriate on a plane in the '70s, that story is weak and would never, should never, be considered impactful if it were the only one.
The stories about Franken seem to suggest he is handsy, but it's absurd to me that pinching someone's ass — which is totally old-school but still totally inappropriate — would be considered sexual assault and means the person who did it is some kind of serial pervert who doesn't deserve employment.
Regardless, the Democratic female senators — and make no mistake, Gillibrand or Harris will be the Democratic nominee in 2020 — have spoken, and I do not see how Franken overcomes it. I really think he's being railroaded. Why would these stories be spaced out just enough to keep Franken in the news longer than anyone else save for Moore, whose accusations are far more serious, and who is fighting to get into the Senate while Franken is being drummed out for far less?
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