Democratic senators came out in droves Wednesday calling for Sen. Al Franken
Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenDem senator who replaced Franken on his future in Minnesota: 'It's complicated' Gillibrand: If George Soros is mad I stood up for women ‘that’s on him’ Franken: I miss being a senator, haven't ruled out running for office again MORE (D-Minn.) to resign following multiple accusations of groping and improper sexual conduct.
The charge was led by women in the Senate, seven of whom came out with successive statements seemingly in coordination calling for Franken to step down.
"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," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth GillibrandBorder patrol chief: Calls to abolish ICE impact the morale of my team Kamala Harris tied with Bernie Sanders as betting favorite for 2020 Dems Latino candidates set to play most prominent role ever in presidential race MORE (D-N.Y.), the first out with a statement, said in a message posted on Facebook.
The statements mark a shift for Democratic senators who previously dodged calls for Franken to resign despite a growing number of allegations against him. As recently as last week they said they were waiting for the Ethics Committee to review the accusations against him.
That changed when a new charge became public on Wednesday from a woman who said the senator has sought to forcibly kiss her in a 2006 incident.
Six female Democratic senators quickly followed Gillibrand in saying that Franken should step down: Sens. Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi HarrisSenate Judiciary announces Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Fearing ‘blue wave,’ drug, insurance companies build single-payer defense Kamala Harris tied with Bernie Sanders as betting favorite for 2020 Dems MORE (Calif.), Claire McCaskill
Claire Conner McCaskillUS suspected Russia was behind 2016 cyberattacks against Swedish news organizations: report GOP leaders: No talk of inviting Russia delegation to Capitol McCaskill corrects GOP 'Yale law grad' opponent over definition of truck MORE (Mo.), Patty Murray
Patricia (Patty) Lynn MurraySenate Dems press Sessions for records on racial discrimination complaints Dem senators introduce resolution calling on Trump to stop attacking the press Overnight Health Care: Drug price fight heats up | Skepticism over drug companies' pledges | Ads target HHS secretary over child separations | Senate confirms VA pick MORE (Wash.), Mazie Hirono
Mazie Keiko HironoThey knew it would cause lasting harm, and still took children from parents Dem strategist: It's 'far-left thinking' to call for Nielsen's resignation Schumer asks national archivist for sensitive Kavanaugh records MORE (Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin
Tammy Suzanne BaldwinBipartisanship alive and well, protecting critical infrastructure Overnight Health Care: Four cities sue Trump claiming ObamaCare 'sabotage' | Planned Parenthood hangs onto federal grants | Dems to force vote on blocking non-ObamaCare plans Senate Dems to force vote to block non-ObamaCare insurance plans MORE (Wis.) and Maggie Hassan
Margaret (Maggie) HassanDem senators introduce resolution calling on Trump to stop attacking the press Senators blast Michigan State president's handling of sex abuse scandal New Hampshire governor signs controversial voting bill MORE (N.H.).
"I believe the best thing for Senator Franken to do is step down," Harris said.
By early afternoon, Sen. Dick Durbin
Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinDems seize on Kavanaugh emails to question role in terrorism response Trump gives thumbs up to prison sentencing reform bill at pivotal meeting Overnight Defense: Officials make show of force on election security | Dems want probe into Air Force One tours | Pentagon believes Korean War remains 'consistent' with Americans MORE (Ill.), the No. 2 Democrat, and Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow
Deborah (Debbie) Ann StabenowMichigan county investigating ballot shortage in election Michigan Dems elect state's first all-female statewide ticket for midterms The Hill's Morning Report — Signs of trouble for Republicans in House special election MORE (Mich.), Heidi Heitkamp
Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampSenate Judiciary announces Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing NRA will spend M to support Kavanaugh for Supreme Court: report Planned Parenthood launches six-figure Supreme Court ad campaign MORE (N.D.), Bob Casey
Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseyTop Koch official fires back at critics: We are not an 'appendage' of the GOP Dem senator: Media should stop covering Trump rallies like they're breaking news The Hill's Morning Report: Trump tries to rescue Ohio House seat as GOP midterm fears grow MORE Jr. (Pa.), Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Campbell BrownDustbin 2020: The best Dems who surely won’t get the nomination Vulnerable Dems side with Warren in battle over consumer bureau Early polls favor Biden but Senate officials skeptical MORE (Ohio), Joe Donnelly
Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellySenate Judiciary announces Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing GOP candidate who criticizes outsourcing has brand that sells foreign-made goods: report NRA will spend M to support Kavanaugh for Supreme Court: report MORE (Ind.), Michael Bennet
Michael Farrand BennetWhen it comes to drone tech, wildfire officials need the rights tools for the job NFL player wears 'Immigrants made America great' hat mocking Trump US farmers shouldn't be collateral damage in free-traders' crusade MORE (Colo.), Ed Markey
Edward (Ed) John MarkeyMake the moon a refueling station — then head to Mars Dems push FEMA on housing help for displaced Puerto Ricans Overnight Energy: Trump moves to roll back Obama auto emissions standards | California vows to sue | Senate Dem looks to block plan in Congress MORE (Mass.), Maria Cantwell
Maria Elaine CantwellSenators share their fascination with sharks at hearing Poll: Majority of Americans support Roe v. Wade The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by Better Medicare Alliance — Protests and anger: Washington in turmoil as elections near MORE (Wash.), Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph LeahyGOP senator: Trump is ‘the only one in the government’ not paying attention to Russian threat to midterms Hillicon Valley: 'QAnon' conspiracy theory jumps to primetime | Senate Intel broadens look into social media manipulation | Senate rejects push for more election security funds | Reddit reveals hack Senate clears 4B ‘minibus’ spending measure MORE (Vt.), Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinSenate Judiciary announces Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Latino legal group slams Kavanaugh Dems seize on Kavanaugh emails to question role in terrorism response MORE (Calif.), Martin Heinrich
Martin Trevor HeinrichHillicon Valley: 'QAnon' conspiracy theory jumps to primetime | Senate Intel broadens look into social media manipulation | Senate rejects push for more election security funds | Reddit reveals hack Lawmakers warn that social media manipulation is 'bigger than a single election' Gary Johnson eyeing Senate bid MORE (N.M.), Tammy Duckworth
Ladda (Tammy) Tammy DuckworthDem strategist: It's 'far-left thinking' to call for Nielsen's resignation Top Senate Dem calls on DHS secretary to resign over family separations Conservative writer: I want Dems across the country to emulate Ocasio-Cortez's campaign MORE (Ill.), Jeff Merkley
Jeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyBipartisanship alive and well, protecting critical infrastructure Overnight Defense: Senate sends 7B annual defense bill to Trump's desk | US sanctions Turkish officials over detained pastor | Korean War remains headed to Hawaii | Senators reassure allies on NATO support Dem strategist: It's 'far-left thinking' to call for Nielsen's resignation MORE (Ore.), Tom Carper
Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperOvernight Energy: Trump elephant trophy tweets blindsided staff | Execs of chemical plant that exploded during hurricane indicted | Interior to reverse pesticide ban at wildlife refuges Overnight Defense: Officials make show of force on election security | Dems want probe into Air Force One tours | Pentagon believes Korean War remains 'consistent' with Americans Dems call for investigation of Trump Air Force One tours MORE (Del.), Ron Wyden
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Thomas (Tom) Stewart UdallCourt orders Trump EPA to ban controversial pesticide Top Dems: Trump tweet telling Sessions to end Mueller probe was obstruction of justice Dem senators introduce resolution calling on Trump to stop attacking the press MORE (N.M.), Chris Murphy
Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyThe Hill's Morning Report — Signs of trouble for Republicans in House special election Dem senator defends social media platforms deleting content: 'Not the same as government censorship' Right ramps up battle with Facebook after Jones, Infowars pages are struck down MORE (Conn.), Gary Peters
Gary Charles PetersBipartisanship alive and well, protecting critical infrastructure The Hill's Morning Report — Trump, Putin meet under cloud of Mueller’s Russia indictments Dem senator: Kavanaugh sides with 'wealthiest special interests' MORE (Mich.) and Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon WhitehouseOvernight Defense: Officials make show of force on election security | Dems want probe into Air Force One tours | Pentagon believes Korean War remains 'consistent' with Americans Dems call for investigation of Trump Air Force One tours Dem senators introduce resolution calling on Trump to stop attacking the press MORE (R.I.) had also called on Franken to resign.
Sens. Bernie Sanders
Bernard (Bernie) SandersSanders to appear next week on Colbert's 'Late Show' Dustbin 2020: The best Dems who surely won’t get the nomination Obama midterm endorsements seen as too little, too late by Dem critics MORE (Vt.) and Angus King
Angus Stanley KingThe Hill's 12:30 Report Sen. King ‘reasonably confident’ Russia is behind fake Facebook accounts A single courageous senator can derail the Trump administration MORE (Maine), both Independents who caucus with the Democrats, also called on Franken to step down.
"The right thing is for him to resign. We are now at a crossroads in American culture. And it is an important one. The way we treat women in our country has been abysmal in almost every way. We are finally addressing the issue of sexual harassment, and we need to get it right," Sanders said in a statement.
Franken's office said he would be making an announcement on Thursday.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Amy Jean KlobucharHouse Intel lawmakers introduce bipartisan election security bill Election Countdown: Takeaways from too-close-to-call Ohio special election | Trump endorsements cement power but come with risks | GOP leader's race now rated as 'toss-up' | Record numbers of women nominated | Latino candidates get prominent role in 2020 Senate Dem: Trump's rhetoric on Russia undermines national security MORE (D), the other senator from Minnesota, did not explicitly echo calls for Franken to resign but said she had spoken with her colleague.
"Sexual harassment is unacceptable. This morning I spoke with Senator Franken and, as you know, he will be making an announcement about his future tomorrow morning. I am confident he will make the right decision," she said in a statement.
Sen. Tim Kaine
Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineCorey Stewart blames 'ass hurt' Republicans for negative press coverage The Hill's Morning Report: Where the Mueller probe stands Corey Stewart called Michigan gubernatorial candidate 'ISIS commie' in since-deleted tweet MORE (D-Va.) also declined to comment on Wednesday, saying that he would speak to Franken directly and release a statement after Thursday's press conference.
The women calling for Franken to step down included possible 2020 presidential candidates Harris and Gillibrand, and Murray, the No. 3 Democrat and highest-ranking female senator.
"I'm shocked and appalled by Sen. Franken's behavior. It's clear to me that this has been a deeply harmful, persistent problem and a clear pattern over a long period of time," Murray said.
She added that "we cannot pick and choose based on political party or friendship who we call out."
The Boston Globe reported that Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Ann WarrenEliminating subminimum wage waivers will harm hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities Border patrol chief: Calls to abolish ICE impact the morale of my team Fearing ‘blue wave,’ drug, insurance companies build single-payer defense MORE (D-Mass.), another possible presidential candidate, had called Franken to urge him to step down.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRepublican strategist: Trump is 'driven by ego' Senate GOP campaign arm asking Trump to endorse McSally in Arizona: report Poll: Three-quarters of Americans say Nancy Pelosi should be replaced, including half of Democrats MORE (R-Ky.), meanwhile, said he did not believe Franken could "effectively serve the people of Minnesota in the U.S. Senate any longer."
"While the Senate Ethics Committee is reviewing these serious allegations, it now appears that Senator Franken has lost the support of his colleagues, and most importantly, his constituents," McConnell said in a statement, calling the allegations against Franken "extremely concerning to all of us in the Senate."
Franken has been battling allegations of sexual misconduct since mid-November when radio host Leeann Tweeden said he kissed and groped her without her consent during a 2006 USO tour.
Since then, multiple women have come forward saying Franken inappropriately touched them.
Franken, who routinely doesn't speak to reporters in the Capitol, has kept a relatively low profile since allegations first surfaced against him last month.
He skipped four Senate votes and a caucus lunch in the immediate wake of the initial allegation, and spoke on the Senate floor for the first time since early November on Dec. 1.
The calls for Franken to resign come as he is already under an Ethics Committee investigation.
"While the committee does not generally comment on pending matters that may come before it, in this instance, the committee is publicly confirming that it has opened a preliminary inquiry into Senator Franken's alleged misconduct," committee members said in a statement.
If Franken doesn't step down voluntarily, the committee could move forward with a range of potential punishments from a public admonishment to recommending the Senate expel him.
The Senate last expelled a member — a move that requires support for two-thirds of the chamber — in 1862 for supporting the confederacy.
The pressure on Franken to step down Wednesday also comes one day after Rep. John Conyers
John James ConyersMichigan Dems elect state's first all-female statewide ticket for midterms Record numbers of women nominated for governor, Congress Michigan set to send first Muslim woman to Congress MORE Jr. (D-Mich.) resigned from the House amid his own sexual harassment controversy.
And it's a week before election day in Alabama, where Republican Roy Moore is the favorite for a Senate seat despite allegations from multiple women of improper conduct, including one woman who said Moore touched her sexually when she was 14 and he was 32.
Franken isn't up for reelection next year. If he steps down immediately, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) would appoint someone to fill his seat until a special election in 2018. The winner of that election would fill the seat for the remaining two years of Franken's term, while a second election would be held in 2020 for a full six-year term.
Updated: 4:30 p.m.
