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16 Democratic senators, including 10 women, have called on Al Franken to resign.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/al-franken-democratic-senators-resign/index.html
I'm a bit torn about this. The ethics committee, with which Franklin has promised complete cooperation, has yet to hold any hearings or weigh in on the issue. On the other hand, their investigative abilities are pretty weak – especially since some of the allegations are anonymous. About all they could do would be ask for a vote of censure, and even that is unlikely.
Second, the allegations of misconduct are not about harassment, or inappropriate relationships, but about supposedly brief inappropriate contact during photo ops. It's not clear to me whether there was incidental inappropriate contact or deliberate groping.
On the other hand, it's not just one person claiming this, there are six women who have come forward. It's pretty hard to say that there was accidental unintended touching in six separate cases.
On the other hand, although it's considered inappropriate at least to doubt any woman's word, the latest accusation is that Franken pursued a woman after a radio show in 2006, tried to kiss her, and when she ducked away he said "I'm an entertainer it's my right." That's plain weird and does not ring true to me.
On the other hand, since I like Al Franken and appreciate the work he's done, I obviously am going to have some bias in my perceptions.
In any case, I think he's going to have to resign. When his Senate colleagues, (all of whom seem to personally like him) including most of the women, come out against him, I don't see how he can hold onto his seat, especially in the current climate and the charges against Conyers and Roy Moore in the headlines.
An unfortunate situation, all around.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/al-franken-democratic-senators-resign/index.html
I'm a bit torn about this. The ethics committee, with which Franklin has promised complete cooperation, has yet to hold any hearings or weigh in on the issue. On the other hand, their investigative abilities are pretty weak – especially since some of the allegations are anonymous. About all they could do would be ask for a vote of censure, and even that is unlikely.
Second, the allegations of misconduct are not about harassment, or inappropriate relationships, but about supposedly brief inappropriate contact during photo ops. It's not clear to me whether there was incidental inappropriate contact or deliberate groping.
On the other hand, it's not just one person claiming this, there are six women who have come forward. It's pretty hard to say that there was accidental unintended touching in six separate cases.
On the other hand, although it's considered inappropriate at least to doubt any woman's word, the latest accusation is that Franken pursued a woman after a radio show in 2006, tried to kiss her, and when she ducked away he said "I'm an entertainer it's my right." That's plain weird and does not ring true to me.
On the other hand, since I like Al Franken and appreciate the work he's done, I obviously am going to have some bias in my perceptions.
In any case, I think he's going to have to resign. When his Senate colleagues, (all of whom seem to personally like him) including most of the women, come out against him, I don't see how he can hold onto his seat, especially in the current climate and the charges against Conyers and Roy Moore in the headlines.
An unfortunate situation, all around.