You are correct. There was much more going on. I remember, too.

[QueerDuck]

But, as I pointed out in another post above, the bandwagon effect was in full motion, the hashtag movement of the time was in all the headlines, the saboteurs had done their damage and any attempt by Franken to demand or pursue fairness would have only created deep rifts in the party. Even now, those divisions still remain (as we can see). He deserves praise for making a difficult and unselfish decision and putting the party above his own career and legacy. He was, and remains, a good, decent and honest man. As a nation we are poorer because of his absence.