Serial Groper Al Franken Says He'll Resign In 'Coming Weeks,' Says He 'Respects Women' Unlike Blumpf

“Minnesotans deserve a senator who can focus with all her energy on addressing the issues they face every day,” Franken said in speech late Thursday morning on the floor of the U.S. Senate. He said he would resign “in the coming weeks.” A spokesman later said there was not yet a set timeline for Franken to resign and that he would continue to perform regular Senate duties in the meantime.

While he bowed to political reality, saying he could no longer be effective, Franken sought to clear his own name.

“I know there’s been a very different picture of me painted through the last few weeks, but I know who I really am,” Franken said. Of the claims against him by more than half a dozen women, he said: “Some of the allegations aren’t true. Others I remember differently.”

Stressing that he wanted to be respectful of what he called a broader conversation about mistreatment of women by powerful men, Franken sought to draw a distinction between himself and two Republicans also accused of mistreatment of women, President Trump and Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

“I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape of his history of sexual assault is in the Oval Office, and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls has the full support of his party,” Franken said.