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Leahy, Sanders Among U.S. Senators Saying Al Franken Should Resign

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, seen here at Capitol Hill on Nov. 27
Alex Brandon
/
Associated Press
Multiple women have come forth with allegations of sexual misconduct by Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, seen here at Capitol Hill on Nov. 27. Some U.S. senators, including Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, are now calling for Franken to step down.

Vermont Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders have joined a number of other U.S. senators to call for Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken to step down.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the two join a number of their male colleagues and 10 female senators who are publicly calling for Franken’s resignation in the wake of another allegation of sexual misconduct.

In a statement, Leahy said: “Senator Franken’s situation has become untenable.  I am concerned that even a prompt Ethics Committee investigation and recommendations will not come soon enough.  He has to step aside.”

In his statement regarding Franken, Sanders said: "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."

Update 3:15 p.m. This post was updated to include a statement from Sanders, in addition to one from Leahy.

Steve has been with VPR since 1994, first serving as host of VPR’s public affairs program and then as a reporter, based in Central Vermont. Many VPR listeners recognize Steve for his special reports from Iran, providing a glimpse of this country that is usually hidden from the rest of the world. Prior to working with VPR, Steve served as program director for WNCS for 17 years, and also worked as news director for WCVR in Randolph. A graduate of Northern Arizona University, Steve also worked for stations in Phoenix and Tucson before moving to Vermont in 1972. Steve has been honored multiple times with national and regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for his VPR reporting, including a 2011 win for best documentary for his report, Afghanistan's Other War.
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