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What all 46 Democratic senators say about Al Franken

What all 46 Democratic senators say about Al Franken

Here is where the Democratic members of the United States Senate and the two independents who caucus with them stand on the allegations of sexual assault made by Leeann Tweeden against Senator Al Franken.

Calling for Franken to resign or be expelled from the Senate

No one.

Not a single Democrat has called for Al Franken to step down or be expelled from the Senate despite photographic evidence that backs up Leeann Tweeden’s allegation that Franken groped her breasts while she was sleeping and despite her claim that Franken forced his tongue down her throat.

Senate Democrats are content to serve with a disgusting creep until the Ethics Committee investigates this photo:

Maybe they’ll call for Franken to step down after the Ethics Committee spends all of five seconds looking at the photographic evidence?

Calling for an Ethics Committee investigation

Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin said, “I am glad to see that Senator Franken immediately apologized. This kind of behavior isn’t ok whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat and I support an Ethics Committee investigation.”

Baldwin also said she is donating $20,000 her campaign received from Franken’s political action committee to a women veterans group.

Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, “This kind of conduct is totally unacceptable, abhorrent and repugnant, and I think Al Franken’s apology recognizes it.”

He also said the Ethics Committee investigation must be left alone to determine what is appropriate for Franken.

Cory Booker, D-N.J.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey issued a statement calling the revelations “deeply troubling,” adding, “What we’ve heard must be taken seriously and I strongly believe there should be an Ethics Committee investigation into the matter.”

Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington was initially silent on Franken when asked five separate times about it. Eventually, she called Franken’s behavior “disturbing.”

Ben Cardin, D-Md.

Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland declined to comment directly on Franken, saying, “The Ethics Committee deals with the conduct of the member.”

Tom Carper, D-Del.

Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware said, “The assertions, if true, are deeply troubling” and should be investigated.

Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada wants to hear more from Sen. Franken.

Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.

Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana called Franken’s actions “wrong.”

Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois said, “These types of actions are simply unacceptable.”

Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Duckworth’s fellow senator from Illinois, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, said Franken’s behavior was inexcusable.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she believes Franken’s accuser. Gillibrand will donate $12,500 she received from Franken’s PAC to Protect our Defenders, a group that fights sexual abuse in the military.

Kamala Harris, D-Calif.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California said she is “troubled” by the press reports on Franken and that “there should be an ethics investigation and we will see where that ends up.”

Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.

New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan said of Franken, “Actions like that weren’t funny then and they aren’t funny now, and I fully support an Ethics Committee investigation.” Hassan will contribute $10,000 she received from Franken’s PAC to the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation.

Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico is “deeply troubled” by the allegations against Franken.

Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii

Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer “I am glad [Franken] apologized and acknowledged and called for an ethics investigation, that’s what should be happening.”

“There should be an institutional response to these kinds of allegations,” she added, calling for a “cultural change” that is “long overdue.”

Angus King, I-Maine

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, said Franken’s actions were “wrong. *Period.*”

Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

“This should not have happened to Leeann Tweeden,” said Sen. Al Franken’s fellow senator from Minnesota, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, in a Facebook post. “I strongly condemn this behavior and the Senate Ethics Committee must open and conduct a thorough investigation. This is another example of why we need to change work environments and reporting practices across the nation, including in Congress.”

Klobuchar was reportedly unwilling to talk to reporters about Franken.

Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said she was “shocked and concerned.”

McCaskill plans to donate $30,000 from Franken’s PAC to charity.

Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said, “The allegations against Senator Franken are serious, hurtful and should be investigated. It was the correct decision for Senator Franken to ask for an Ethics Committee investigation. I have confidence that the committee will work in a bipartisan way to investigate the allegations and I trust the process. I am also returning his donations.”

Ed Markey, D-Mass.

Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts called for a full investigation of Franken by the Ethics Committee.

Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley said, “Sexual harassment and assault are never acceptable.”

Gary Peters, D-Mich.

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters called for an investigation while calling the allegations “deeply disturbing.”

Jack Reed, D-R.I.

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said, “We can’t just look away from these types of incidents.”

Debbie Stabenow, D-Wis.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Wisconsin called the allegations “serious” and called for an ethics investigation.

Mark Warner, D-Va.

Sen. Mark Warner said he was glad that his colleague would cooperate with an ethics investigation.

Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called Franken’s behavior “unacceptable and deeply disappointing,” adding, “We’re not going to fix the problems of sexual harassment and assault until men take responsibility for their actions and change their behavior.”

Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called the allegations “serious.”

Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Sen. Bernie Sanders — an Independent socialist who caucuses with Democrats — “agreed” with the calls for an investigation.

Donating Franken's PAC money

Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio

The campaign of Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio will give up $28,100 in donations from Sen. Al Franken’s PAC to “various charities around Ohio.”

Bob Casey, D-Pa.

Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is donating $10,000 from Franken’s PAC.

Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chair of the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee, was initially silent, but later said that his committee would review Franken’s status as a fundraiser “right away.”

John Tester, D-Mont.

Sen. John Tester of Montana is donating $25,000 he received from Franken’s PAC.

Declined to comment

Chris Coons, D-Del.

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware:

Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen is also on the Ethics Committee and likewise refused to comment.

Other responses

Tim Kaine, D-Va.

Former vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine of Virginia said he will not judge the sufficiency of Franken’s apology and thinks the behavior is “unacceptable.”

Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy said he was unaware of the allegations against Franken when asked. At the time this article was published, he has not issued any further statement.

Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida called for an investigation, while Franken will no longer be attending his upcoming fundraiser.

Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington scolded Franken on Twitter, but didn’t call for an investigation or give money back:

Silent

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

When allegations of sexual assault against Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore broke last week, scores of Republican Senators called for Moore to drop out of the race and some even said he should be expelled from the Senate chamber if he wins the election.

It would seem Democratic members of the senate hold their colleague to a different standard than Republicans do to their own.


 

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CRTV congressional correspondent Nate Madden contributed to this report.

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