Kirsten Gillibrand Stands By Her Call For Al Franken's Resignation

[left-of-center2012]

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) defended her call for former Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to resign in 2017 after sexual misconduct accusations, telling critics “who are angry because I stood up for women who came forward with allegations of sexual harassment, that’s on them.”

Asked during an MSNBC town hall on Monday about persistent criticism she receives from progressives for pressuring Franken to quit, the 2020 presidential candidate acknowledged that “it was a very hard issue for so many Democrats because the truth is, we miss him and people loved him.”

Gillibrand argued she had to take a stand against Franken and the “eight credible allegations against him of sexual harassment for groping.”
“I had a choice to make, whether to stay silent or not, whether to say it’s not OK with me, and I decided to say that,” she said.

Gillibrand faced fury from progressives, who blamed her for taking down Franken’s career. Some even pledged not to donate to her campaign should she run for president, attacking her as an “opportunist.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kirsten-gillibrand-al-franken-sexual-misconduct_n_5c90cedfe4b071a25a86a32a

[bearsfootball516]

1. Well, best of luck because she's seriously going to need it.

No chance she makes even a dent in the primary.

[montanacowboy]

3. You got that right

She comes on the TV, off goes my TV

[SFnomad]

17. Why isn't Senator Harris's call for Senator Franken's resignation equally disqualifying?

There is no difference, no matter how you try to justify it.

[LakeArenal]

80. It is to some of us. Corey Booker, Warren, Sanders

I guess some think we forgot. But we haven’t.

[SFnomad]

82. Some people have integrity in their convictions.

Others call out Gillibrand, yet are supporters of Harris (or Warren, Sanders or Booker)

[LakeArenal]

84. As you see, it's not me.

[SFnomad]

85. +1 n/t

[wasupaloopa]

87. Harris will make a much better president than

Gillibrand.

As for integrity, everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

You never heard the whole story. There could be more information that would change the perceptions.

That goes for you and all Senators.

You do not have integrity in this.

I do.

[SFnomad]

88. Senator Harris called for Senator Franken's resignation just like Senator Gillibrand

For someone to hold Gillibrand accountable for that action, but not Harris (or the others) ... shows a lack of integrity as far as I'm concerned.

[wasupaloopa]

97. Did you read I said all Senators.

I am a Harris supporter because I think she is qualified and has a history of supporting the rights of everyone.

I don’t like Gillibrand. I can’t stand to watch her on TV.

[JonLP24]

143. I agree

I don't blame Gillibrand for Franken's actions and besides it was Chuck Schumer who first privately called for Franken to resign.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/senate/363682-schumer-called-met-with-franken-and-told-him-to-resign-report%3famp

[bearsfootball516]

94. I didn't like her call for resignation either, but that's a straw man argument in this thread.

The thread isn’t about Harris, it’s about Gillibrand, and her numbers are in the basement. That has nothing to do with Harris.

[SFnomad]

99. That's the best you can come up with?

[Baltimike]

100. They were not spear heading the effort...she was. nt

[SFnomad]

101. Steaming pile of a justification n/t

[Baltimike]

102. Driving the band wagon of Roger Stone's sucker bet. nt

[SFnomad]

103. Roger Stone? Really?

[Baltimike]

116. Yes. The first accuser was a Roger Stone associate. I'm not making this up. nt

[SFnomad]

117. And you realize that Senator Franken apologized to her too ... right?

And that he said he shouldn't have done it ... right?
But hey, she was a Roger Stone associate, so her consent isn't as important ... right?

What is your excuse for the other 7? Several of them Senator Franken has never even publicly discussed. And please don't try to tell me that Senator Franken has been cleared of all of them ... he hasn't.

[Baltimike]

118. So?

He got bullied into an apology and bullied out of his office.

by Roger Stone.

[SFnomad]

119. Wow, just wow

[Baltimike]

120. Absolutely. Wow indeed.

By *HER* account, she agreed to the kiss. Then she turns a different tale at Roger Stone's behest.

Now here you are, implying that he did something untoward...and the whole outrage of the Franken fiasco is...


















he didn't.

[calimary]

121. This is true. He helped engineer it with a conservative gal

who I guess still works at KABC-AM, a poorly-rated talk station with low power and a lousy signal. They USED TO BE a powerhouse - back before they lurched to the right but couldn’t compete with the reigning limbaugh station in LA that had both power and signal strength.

Leeann Tweeden, the KABC-AM radio anchor, and VERY minor player in LA radio, undoubtedly hoping to exploit this to make a bigger name for herself, worked with Roger Stone to spread this photo From when she and Al Franken were part of some USO show traveling overseas.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna821381

All I know, as someone who worked in and on radio news in LA, and covered entertainment in LA, I saw crazy stuff a lot. And I heard about crazy stuff that people did while out on tour - whether it was showbiz or political campaigns. You’re thrown together with a ragtag bunch of traveling troubadours and other types of entertainers: singers, dancers like The Golddiggers (a female group like New York City’s Rockettes) who were regulars on Dean Martin’s TV show back in the day. There were always the prerequisite pretty girls. And a madcap comedian or two. Sometimes Phyllis Diller went on these things with Bob Hope.

And by the time you’ve been on the road for a few weeks, far from home, alone together in this tight little group, you can start getting kinda slap-happy, particularly at the end. You will have been gone from home and predictability and routines and family and the comfort of your own bed for weeks. You’re living on pure adrenaline, your sleep schedule is non-existent, the food’s weird or uneven or doesn’t agree with your digestion, you sometimes aren’t sure where, what hour, or what time zone you’re in, and you’re in a constant state state of jet lag. The engineers at NBC Radio News told me stories of tour silliness when they went out on Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. You can get downright ding-y.

Hell, my kid came home with all these crazy stories about what he and other indie rock bands they toured with would do to and with each other. Especially toward the end of the tour.

So I never took that “complaint” by Tweeden seriously. And when I read that she was in cahoots with Roger Stone to target Al Franken, all those attacks on Franken lost all credibility with me. Including one by the woman who sought a photo with Al Franken at some county fair, whose later “complaint” about him “groping” her was that “he touched my waist.”



Roger the Ratfucker. Just EXPECT that he’s up to no good. It’s always a safe assumption - that turns out to be factual.

[calimary]

125. Mind you - this in NO way means I feel the same way about the #metoo movement.

Sexual assault is for real and to be taken seriously. I’ve interviewed rape victims. And convicted rapists. It’s a brutal affront.

But when it’s exploited for a political agenda, blown out of proportion, or just plain ol’ made up, for the sake of a political hit job, then, seems to me, that shits all over a legitimate sexual assault case and contributes toward de-legitimizing it. It becomes yet ANOTHER assault on top of the first legitimate complaint.

ESPECIALLY when you bring in human vermin like Roger Stone in any way.

[Baltimike]

139. This. 5000%. nt

[Honeycombe8]

47. It's over before it starts for her. nt

[Gothmog]

89. She is near the bottom of my list

[duforsure]

90. I agree totally

She will fade away very quickly.

[Loge23]

2. ...and I stand by my complete dismissal of her candidacy. (eom)

[SWBTATTReg]

4. After Gym Jordan's stunt and still in the Senate/House, and rump, fair is fair, and IMHO, ...

Franken should have stayed there in office, and he would have done more for victims there than outside Congress. Then, later, at election time, if his voters didn't approve of what he did, despite his sorrow, they wouldn't voted him back in.

His voters should have decided what should have happened, or the Congress should have removed him if the transgression was severe enough (as they should do with anybody, although by now, I question the GOP controlled Senate on doing anything morally right on anything and everything now).

Why should we play nice anymore? Not until we see a tit for tat, and people like rump, Jordan, and all of their fellow scumbags leave their offices after abusing or ignoring others being molested, should we play nice.

[Trumpocalypse]

5. What I don't understand is why

Gillibrand gets this question while Harris, Booker, Warren and Sanders don't. They all called on Franken to resign the very same morning, some within minutes of Gillibrand's facebook post.

In the case of Harris, she was the first to go on TV:

&t=16s

Plus, Harris benefited immediately by getting Franken's seat on the Judiciary committee.

[USALiberal]

7. She started it, she owns it! Nt

[Trumpocalypse]

8. Started it?

Based on the speed of which the others called for Franken's resignation, it was a highly co-ordinated effort that was agreed to before hand.

[madville]

13. Agreed.

Harris, Sanders, Warren, and several others all called for his resignation within hours of each other. It was coordinated, like they had just broke a huddle and were running a play.

[Demit]

29. There's always somebody who calls the play.

[customerserviceguy]

79. Yes

but when the play works, the whole team high-fives, saying, "WE did it!"

For me, Gillibrand being a political chameleon is enough for me to prefer someone else. I was living in NY State when she morphed from an A+ rating from the NRA to a much lower status in their eyes. The very fact that she could defend tobacco companies tells me all I need to know about her core values.

[tonedevil]

10. Senator Gillibrand...

won the contest to be the representative for demanding Senator Franken's resignation. I don't think it is working out very well for her, but she seems proud of her decision. Truth in advertising she has never been on my list of politicians that I care about and I'm actually a bit sour on her now even discounting the Senator Franken railroading.

[Trumpocalypse]

11. Won the contest?

Interesting phrase.

[tonedevil]

15. You point out...

she wasn't unique among Senators in her call for Franken to resign and not even that much quicker to make that call. Somehow the other Senators who's actions were very similar aren't getting any questions about this at all. Senator Gillibrand won all the attention.

[USALiberal]

6. Glad she is doubling down, will just hurt her more! Nt

[Bettie]

53. She was so eager to do it

she probably figures it would look worse if she backed down now.

[BlueStater]

9. "Eight credible" my ass.

Every single one of them had an air of suspicion surrounding it.

Maybe she realizes deep down how badly she fucked up, but thinks going back on it now would make her look even worse.

[Trumpocalypse]

12. Really?

Here is a list of the women who accused Franken: https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/nedd8b/what-8-women-have-said-al-franken-did-to-them

I'll give you Tweeden but what was the 'air of suspicion' surrounding the other seven? Please provide links to credible sources.

[BlueStater]

14. About half of them were anonymous. One said he "groped" her waist.

Another claimed he grabbed her butt while taking a photo with her, a photo she had on her Facebook page for about seven years.

Yeah, all of them are really weird to me.

[Trumpocalypse]

16. OK but

do you have any evidence that any of them were lying.

[BlueStater]

18. Do you have any evidence they're telling the truth?

It goes both ways.

All I have is my opinion based on what I know, same as you. The ties to scumbags like Hannity and Stone, the anonymous accusations, and the just plain bizarre accusation of a body part not normally thought of as a target for sexual assault being groped all make them highly suspect in my eyes.

[Trumpocalypse]

19. I have no reason to assume

anyone other than Tweeden was lying. Do you have any proof that the other 7 were also lying?

[BlueStater]

20. I already gave you my answer.

Where's your "proof" that they're telling the truth?

[Trumpocalypse]

22. So you discredit

the entire Me Too movement. I guess all the accusers of Brett Kavanaugh, Roy Moore, Bill O'Reilly, Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, etc were all lying too. Guess we owe them an apology.

[BlueStater]

23. Nice strawman.

Treating every allegation the same as if they're all on the exact same level of credibility is the kind of attitude which really hurts MeToo.

By the way, Rapey Brett got more of chance to defend himself than Franken ever did.

[Trumpocalypse]

24. Not a strawman

You either think that women deserve to be believed or not. There can't be one standard for Republicans and a different one for Democrats.

[BlueStater]

25. And the accused deserve to be believed too.

And not lose their jobs and have theirs reputation and lives ruined based on allegations alone.

[Trumpocalypse]

27. So I guess we owe

Roy Moore, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacy and numerous others an apology.

[BlueStater]

31. We have every right to form opinions on the credibility of both the accused and the accusers based

on what we know. And the Franken accusations aren't up to snuff for quite a few of us.

[Trumpocalypse]

38. OK Thanks for explaining

the double standard.

[BlueStater]

39. You're welcome.

Thank you for your substanceless response.

[Trumpocalypse]

40. What do you expect for a

substanceless post.

[BlueStater]

41. You talking about your recent additions to this thread?

I don't know what part of my answers to your question you seem to be dissatisfied with. Frankly, I think your mindset that all allegations made against any public figure are of exactly the same level of credibility to be utterly asinine.

Christine Blasey Ford sounded very credible. The Franken accusers did not. The woman who accused Justin Fairfax (a Democrat, so you can drop your debate strategy of accusing me of being a partisan) sounded credible. The Franken accusers did not. That is my viewpoint after hearing from all of them and hearing their stories. If you don't like it, too bad.

[Trumpocalypse]

45. Why not?

There must be some other criteria other than being a fan of the person accused. Here is a list of all the women https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/nedd8b/what-8-women-have-said-al-franken-did-to-them Please provide evidence for each on why they shouldn't be believed. And remember links to credible sources.

[BlueStater]

48. I already gave you my reasons several times. I'm not answering this again.

How about you answer why you do think they're credible?

[Trumpocalypse]

60. Because I have no reason to think they are not

No evidence has been presented to suggest that any other than Tweeden should be doubted. Just because they accused a liberal Democrat is not a good enough reason to dismiss them. Trump supporters dismiss the accusations against him. We should be better than that. It is a shame some are not.

[MicaelS]

35. Just throw out the presumption of innocence when it applies to men.

That way we can all save time. If a man is accused by a woman he is instantly guilty, no trial needed. That is what you are implying.

Yes we CAN have different standards, the Republicans have them all the time. You might want to commit political suicide, but other do not.

As finally there's Emerson.

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.”

[Trumpocalypse]

37. The presumption of innocence applies to criminal prosecution

not to keeping a job.

And we should have much higher standards than Republicans. Have lower standards for the sake of political expediency make us just as bad as them.

[rainin]

152. Why doesn't the picture being on her FB page call into question

how "traumatized" she was by the butt brush? And why is a "butt brush" even called a "credible allegation of sexual assault or sexual harrassment?" She led it. Now she's defending it.

[Trumpocalypse]

155. Who'd FB page?

Not sure who you are referring to.

[Gothmog]

21. I will support the Democratic nominee

I have a large number of candidates who I will be supporting in the primary before I support Gillibrand

[Kurt V.]

26. i would expect no less. it would look weak otherwise

[BlueStater]

32. *Alleged* sexual abuser.

You seem to have forgotten a word.

[BlueStater]

61. An unfunny, tasteless joke from his days as a comedian doesn't make him a sexual abuser.

Tweeden also slapped Robin Williams' ass and grabbed a soldier's rump as well. The entire event was gross, not just Franken.

[MrsMatt]

65. Oh for the love of mike, you're bringing up that old canard?

Anyone with eyes could see that he never touched her. There's a freaking shadow.

edit for spelling.

[Demit]

33. If it was sexism, the other female senators who signed on to ousting him would be getting attacked

too, don't you think?

[LakeArenal]

81. That political opportunism for you.

[stonecutter357]

34. Al Franken 2020 !

[Polly Hennessey]

36. I'll be more than happy when

Gillibrand disappears. Was never impressed with her and the Franken smear has convinced me I was right.

[Bettie]

42. She is an opportunist

she jumps on whatever bandwagon seems like the best one for the moment.

There are much better candidates this cycle, no need to vote for her.

[cynatnite]

44. How is that opportunistic?

Right now she's the only one standing in that bandwagon.

[Bettie]

52. She's got no way to back down without looking bad

so she's sticking with it, but it was opportunistic, especially when she just had to ensure that she was alone in the initial announcement rather than as planned with other senators.

In any case, she's not my choice. Not first, second, third, there are much better, more charismatic people out there.

(And yes, if she's the nominee, I vote for her)

[cynatnite]

55. Charisma isn't on my list of qualifications for president...

If she had came out and apologized for calling for Franken's resignation, that she was wrong and all that jazz, people would be heralding her for it. Saying that it took courage for her to see that she was wrong and all that. DU would be filled with post after post. I've been around her for a while and I've seen it happen more than once.

She didn't do that.

I want a candidate who is willing to stick up for what they believe is right, whether I agree with it or not. Not in the trumpian way of bullshit. But even when you know that most will stand against you, in your heart of heart, you believe it's the right thing. That's what I respect about her. She feels really strongly about this.

I think she's damned no matter what she says or does which is a real shame. She's a solid liberal with the voting record to back it up.

[cynatnite]

43. I respect that...

She knows the costs. She's willing to stand up despite that.

We rarely see anyone willing to stand up knowing that they will get dragged through the mud and then some for doing what they think is right.

I don't know if I'll vote for her or not. I'm still on the fence on who I'm going to support, but I respect her on this.

[BlueStater]

49. You can stand up to sexual assault without being idiotic about it.

Demanding that a person lose their job when all the facts haven't been fully investigated is a TERRIBLE way to stand up to it and only hurts the cause. The hill she has chosen to die on is a stupid one.

[cynatnite]

50. Franken chose to leave before the investigation was completed....

That's his particular hill.

Either way, whether anyone agrees or not, I do respect her for sticking to her guns. She knows this is costly for her.

[BlueStater]

59. His response doesn't change the awful precedent she tried to set.

Demanding that a person accused of sexual assault lose their job and have their reputation and life destroyed when all the facts haven't been revealed is a wretched stance to take.

[cynatnite]

62. And he could have fought back which he chose not to do...

He could have countered her by publicly stating that the investigation should be completed first. He did not. He chose to resign instead which gave the claims against more credence.

[tonedevil]

71. If you work in a place...

where more than 30 of the nearly 50 colleagues you work closest with demand you resign do you really think you have a choice? The Democratic members of the Senate railroaded Senator Franken out of office.

[LakeArenal]

83. Then demand due process shortly after

[MicaelS]

114. I really hope it costs her the nomination. n/t

[Hortensis]

46. She also stands by her call to imprison for free speech that

doesn't suit her. I'm referring to her senate bill that called for up to 30 years' imprisonment for people who called for boycotting Israel for political reasons. It didn't go anywhere, but is of enormous valuable as a partial insight into a hole where liberal principles should be ineradicably embedded. I know what party she'd be running for if she lived here in Georgia instead of Massachusetts.

[cynatnite]

51. Well, no that's not true...

She pulled her support of that bill after meeting with the ACLU. You can hate her all you like, but let's stick with facts.

https://www.politifact.com/new-york/statements/2017/sep/08/american-israel-public-affairs-committee/gillibrand-still-opposes-boycott-israel-despite-fl/

[Trumpocalypse]

86. Facts just get in the way of

a good demonization.

[sakabatou]

54. My question is why was there no investigation?

Franken wanted it to happen, but he was just booted out.

[bernie59]

57. Franken could have stayed.

He resigned under the pressure applied by quite of few of his colleagues. This is generally considered the honorable thing to do for the party.

[elfin]

58. And I stand by my call to eliminate her from the primary race SOON.

She gives her accused personal driver a better assumption of innocence than a sitting Senator, her colleague who stood between her and her march to higher office.

All those who favor her -- she LED the lynch mob, fortuitously (for her) coinciding with the Me Too movement so as to make political points. Al took one for the Party, knowing she and her mob were going to make the thinnest of accusations into mountains to scorch him for their own careers.

A hateful chapter and all are besmirched (except Klobuchar) but KG led the frenzy.

[SHRED]

63. Franken is why we have the Mueller investigations

Franken is now gone.

Fairly or unfairly she will never be the Democratic Party's choice for President because of this.

[Trumpocalypse]

64. Sorry that is just not true

[SHRED]

66. Which part?

[Trumpocalypse]

67. About the Mueller investigation

it would have happened away.

[SHRED]

68. I don't think Sessions would have appointed him

No way.

[Trumpocalypse]

70. Maybe not

But Sessions didn’t recuse himself because of Franken.

[SHRED]

108. I thought Franken caught Sessions in the Russian contact lie?

Thus he had to recuse?

[Trumpocalypse]

111. Yes and no

Sessions did lie in a response to Franken during his confirmation hearing in January of 2017. In March '17 the NYT and Washington Post revealed that Sessions had meetings with Russian ambassador twice in 2016. At that time there was an uproar from several groups calling for Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. So while Franken's question, and Sessions lie, was a contributing factor, it wasn't the sole one or even a primary factor in Sessions recusal.

[JonLP24]

144. I think firing James Comey jump started Mueller's involvement

Besides there was already an existing counter intelligence investigation going on which Comey was in charge of which is why they need for Mueller when Trump fired him.

[aikoaiko]

69. I admire her self-confidence and moral certainty.

Me...I'd be second-guessing myself a lot.

[MineralMan]

72. Forget her. She has zero chance in this primary race.

Seriously.

[brooklynite]

75. Perhaps so...but not because of outrage over Franken.

[womanofthehills]

73. Randi Rhodes worked at Air America for yrs with Al

She said he was one of the least sexual men she has ever met - never came on to anyone in all those yrs. She said he had this thing about kissing as a greeting but it was so not sexual.

[SFnomad]

141. Randi Rhodes is the last person I'd use as a character reference after she called Geraldine Ferraro

and Hillary Clinton "whores" ... "big fucking whores".

Randi Rhodes can crawl back under whatever rock she came from and never come back.

[UniteFightBack]

74. She out of ANYONE had to do this. And she did after the 8th woman came out. HYPOCRITE if she didnt

why don't you all get that? I expect better.

[Trumpocalypse]

93. Why let facts

get in the way of a good demonetization.

[Jarqui]

76. "Gillibrand Stands By Her Call" ... so I'll stand by mine

with her near the bottom of my list.

She would have been near the bottom anyway .... but this saves me a little time I can put to better use examining others.

[Mme. Defarge]

77. And I stand by my decision

to rule her out as a credible and honorable candidate for office.

[David__77]

78. I find it interesting how she's focused on in particular on this issue.

...

[OnDoutside]

91. She's probably getting private polling that (aside from anything else) it's a millstone around her

neck, and they're telling her to face it head on. I think that ship has long sailed though. Despite her few supporters here trying to spread the shite on to the others, she jumped first and whether she did it as part of her strategy to be seen leading, or whatever, it is not going to change.

[Trumpocalypse]

92. So the others were all just blind followers?

Doesn't speak well for them.

[OnDoutside]

95. Unfortunately a number of them marked her with a view to 2020, when the line was holding up to that

point. You should get your friend to ask them in the debate if they still think it was the right decision. Perhaps they will have the good grace to acknowledge what your friend doubled down on, was at best rushed.

[Trumpocalypse]

96. Holding the line?

Sounds like something said when a person is guilty.

[OnDoutside]

98. The notion of holding the line while, y'know, Due Process, takes its course. Apologies if that's an

alien concept for you.

[Trumpocalypse]

110. Due process is a legal standard

for civil and criminal trials. I wasn't aware that Franken was accused of a crime or even being sued.

[OnDoutside]

112. Not exclusively, no. If you are the member of a club, Congress etc, you agree to follow the rules of

that organisation. Congress has an ethics committee with a process, to which members submit themselves for investigation, and Franken had done so willingly. And indeed as you have just admitted, Franken wasn't even accused of a crime or being sued, but requested that the Ethics investigate, which is hardly the actions of a guilty man. However, he wasn't given the chance of due process (of the Ethics Committee), but instead had his career destroyed by your friend.

[Trumpocalypse]

113. And do you really think the republicans

on the ethics committee were going to give Franken a fair hearing?

[OnDoutside]

122. To be fair they were willing to give him a hearing ! Which is

a step more than his own Democratic colleagues.

[Trumpocalypse]

124. Maybe they wanted to give him a hearing

to humiliate him and make any Dem who stood up to defend Franken look like a hypocrite.

[OnDoutside]

126. Unlikely, because it could be the turn of many of them at another

time, and more importantly, it's the Senate Ethics committee.

[Trumpocalypse]

127. Which is still a political body

So are you really saying that the GOP Senators would have treated Franken better than their Dem Colleagues?

[OnDoutside]

128. Well remind me who rounded on him, led by your friend ? This was headed to the Ethics Committee

until your fried intervened. That's fact, and anything else is conjecture/deflection at this point, since the damage is done.

[Trumpocalypse]

130. Until over 35 Democratic Senators called for his resignation

And do you really think the republicans on the ethics committee would given Franken a fair hearing?

[OnDoutside]

133. Yes when your friend jumped the gun for her own reasons, other Dems didn't want to be seen to be.

left behind. At least some later admitted that they rushed into it. And yes, I expected the Senate Ethics committee to function correctly. Are you trying to suggest that she knifed him to protect him from the Republicans on the Senate Ethics committee ? Lol.

[Trumpocalypse]

134. So over 30 Democratic Senators were all just blind followers?

And Republican Senators would have treated Franken more fairly?

[OnDoutside]

135. What evidence do you have that the Senate Ethics committee wouldn't have treated him

fairly ? It's a fairly wild and baseless accusation to make. And, are you saying she knifed him to save him from the Senate Ethics Committee ?

[Trumpocalypse]

136. So Republicans would have been more fair to Franken than Democrats?

Is that what you are claiming?

[OnDoutside]

137. Evidence, no ?

[Trumpocalypse]

138. Would republicans have been fairer to Franken than Democrats?

Simple yes or no.

[OnDoutside]

140. We'll never know because your friend killed his right to have a

hearing before the Senate Ethics committee. It being the Senate Ethics committee, there's every likelihood that, yes, he would have received a fair hearing from the Republicans, and the Democrats.

Now, you are throwing out this irrelevant canard, in some spurious deflection to maybe suggest that your friend saved Franken from some worse fate. Where's your evidence for that ?

[Trumpocalypse]

142. No, Franken killed by resigning

No one put a gun to his head. He could have stayed and fought on but in the end he chose to resign.

[OnDoutside]

145. Lolz....good one ! I presume you'd describe all this as "Fake News" too ?

[Trumpocalypse]

146. It is fake news

to deny that Franken chose to resign.

[OnDoutside]

147. And do you deny that Gillibrand was the one who jumped the gun to stab her Senate colleague in

the back ?

[Trumpocalypse]

148. No That is fake news.

There were over 35 Senators who called for Franken to resign on the same morning. To demonize one for it is unfair and disregards the facts of what happened.

[OnDoutside]

149. I'm content that anyone reading your post will recognise your rewriting of history to create a

narrative that does not reflect reality.

[Trumpocalypse]

150. No it is reality

https://qz.com/1148972/al-franken-all-of-the-senators-calling-for-his-resignation/
https://www.twincities.com/2017/12/07/al-franken-sexual-misconduct-allegations-timeline-senator-minnesota/

[OnDoutside]

157. Lolz thanks for the confirmation !!!

1) 11:28am ET T-0

Kirsten Gillibrand
✔
@SenGillibrand
As elected officials, we should be held to the highest standards—not the lowest. The allegations against Sen. Franken describe behavior that cannot be tolerated. While he’s entitled to an Ethics Committee hearing, I believe he should step aside to let someone else serve.

11.1K
4:28 PM - Dec 6, 2017

[Trumpocalypse]

159. Don't forget these

2) 11:30am T+2min

Senator Mazie Hirono
✔
@maziehirono
Today, I am calling on my colleague Al Franken to step aside. I’ve struggled with this decision because he’s been a good Senator and I consider him a friend. But that cannot excuse his behavior and his mistreatment of women. (thread)

3) 11:34am T+6min

Claire McCaskill
✔
@clairecmc
Al Franken should resign.

4) 11:35am T+7min

Sen. Maggie Hassan
✔
@SenatorHassan
It is clear that Al Franken has engaged in a pattern of egregious and unacceptable behavior toward women. He should resign.

5) 11:44am T+16min

Kamala Harris
✔
@SenKamalaHarris
Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere. I believe the best thing for Senator Franken to do is step down.

6) 11:46am T+18min

Senator Patty Murray
✔
@PattyMurray
I’m shocked and appalled by Senator Franken’s behavior. It’s clear to me that this has been a deeply harmful, persistent problem and a clear pattern over a long period of time.

It’s time for him to step aside.

7) 12:03pm T+35min

Sen. Tammy Baldwin
✔
@SenatorBaldwin
I believe it is best for Senator Franken to resign.

8) 12:05pm T+37min

Senator Bob Casey
✔
@SenBobCasey
I agree with my colleagues who have stepped forward today and called on Senator Franken to resign. We can’t just believe women when it’s convenient.

9) 12:16pm T+48min

Sherrod Brown
✔
@SenSherrodBrown
· Dec 6, 2017
Replying to @SenSherrodBrown
I am grateful to the victims of who have had the bravery to come forward. Their courage has created a movement that is bringing about change.


Sherrod Brown
✔
@SenSherrodBrown
I have listened to them. I have listened to my female colleagues, to women I work with and women in my life. And I agree the time has come for Senator Franken to step aside.

10) 12:25pm T+57min

Sen. Debbie Stabenow
✔
@SenStabenow
Sexual harassment is unacceptable. I believe Senator Franken should do the right thing and resign.

11) 12:32pm T+64min

Ed Markey
✔
@SenMarkey
I join my colleagues in calling for Senator Franken to step aside and resign. Sexual harassment is unacceptable, completely inappropriate and cannot be tolerated.

12) 12:33pm T+65min
✔
@SenatorHeitkamp
We must commit to zero tolerance – which is where I believe we as a country and Congress should be – and that means Senator Franken should step down. Full statement:

13) 12:39pm T+71min

Michael Bennet
✔
@SenatorBennet
Sexual harassment and misconduct are never acceptable. I understand Senator Franken will make an announcement tomorrow morning, and I'm confident he'll do the right thing and step aside.

14) 12:58pm T+90min

Sen. Maria Cantwell
✔
@SenatorCantwell
Senator Franken’s actions are disturbing, egregious, and demonstrate a pattern of serious misconduct and abuse. It is time for Senator Franken to resign from office.

15) 12:59pm T+91min

Senator Dick Durbin
✔
@SenatorDurbin
Senator Franken’s behavior was wrong. He has admitted to what he did. He should resign from the Senate.

16) 1:15pm T+107min

Sen. Patrick Leahy
✔
@SenatorLeahy
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Senator Al Franken -- https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-senator-al-franken …

“Senator Franken’s situation has become untenable,” the satement linked here says, “He has to step aside.”

17) 1:21pm T+113min

Sen Dianne Feinstein
✔
@SenFeinstein
It’s clear the American people don’t look lightly on these kinds of actions, no matter who they’re committed by, and the number of complaints against Senator Franken is a concern. I think resignation is the right thing for him to do.

18) 1:22pm T+114min

Martin Heinrich
✔
@MartinHeinrich
Senator Franken needs to step down and we all need to do more to make clear that sexual harassment and assault are unacceptable.

19) 1:26pm T+118min

Senator Jeff Merkley
✔
@SenJeffMerkley
Senator Franken has said he will make an announcement tomorrow, and I hope that he will do the right thing. It is in the best interest of our country for him to step aside.

20) 1:40pm T+132min

Ron Wyden
✔
@RonWyden
I expect that Senator Franken will announce his resignation tomorrow. It is the right thing to do given this series of serious allegations.

21) 1:41pm T+133min

Senator Tom Carper
✔
@SenatorCarper
Al Franken has been a friend to many in the Senate – Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike – but these allegations are deeply troubling, especially as the number has grown. I believe it's time for him to resign.

22) 2:07pm T+159min

Tom Udall
✔
@SenatorTomUdall
Senator Franken should send a strong message that sexual misconduct is unacceptable in any setting and step down.

23) 2:29pm T+181min

Tammy Duckworth
✔
@SenDuckworth
I am deeply disappointed by Senator Franken’s behavior. He must step aside. My full statement here: http://bit.ly/2ACgSow

24) 2:48pm T+200min

Senator Angus King
✔
@SenAngusKing
My statement on Sen. Franken:

“I think it’s time for my friend to resign” senator King wrote.

25) 2:51pm T+203min

Bernie Sanders
✔
@SenSanders
Sen. Franken has said that he will be making an announcement about his political future tomorrow. The right thing is for him to resign.
26) 3:15pm T+227min

Senator Gary Peters
✔
@SenGaryPeters
I think the time has come for Senator Franken to step down

27) 3:30pm T+242min

Sen. Lisa Murkowski
✔
@lisamurkowski
We’re seeing a culture of harassment & assault being exposed on a daily basis. Whether you are in the media, politics, or anywhere else abuse of power is unacceptable & shouldn’t be tolerated at any place at any level. Sen. Franken must know that & that’s why he must step down.

28) 3:44pm T+256min

Senator Jon Tester
✔
@SenatorTester
Elected officials must be held to a high standard, Al Franken is no exception. It’s time for him to step down.

29) 7:37pm T+489min

Sheldon Whitehouse
✔
@SenWhitehouse
I'm calling for Senator Franken to step aside. https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-statement-on-senator-al-franken …

It's dishonest to leave them out and pretend there was only one person was responsible.

And for those who want the true story of what happened: https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/senators-al-franken-resignation/index.html

[OnDoutside]

160. No one is forgetting those who followed, but she jumped the gun trying to

pull a fast one on the others, so tough shit. She has been given a long hard lesson, that will follow her for an awful long time.

[Trumpocalypse]

161. Jumped the gun?

Where is the proof of that?

Any objective observer can see it was a highly coordinated effort, which the CNN article confirms.

[OnDoutside]

162. I admire your clean up effort but so many of us here watched all this play out in real time,

so your spinning efforts really don't wash.

[Trumpocalypse]

163. No just presenting the facts

with links to credible sources. You are free to do the same.

[OnDoutside]

164. Spun facts certainly. Well you could provide that evidence as to why the you know the Senate Ethics

committee wouldn't have treated him fairly ?

[Trumpocalypse]

165. If it was all a right wing hit job

why would the republicans treat Franken fairly?

[OnDoutside]

166. Try answering the question.

[Trumpocalypse]

167. I did

You just didn’t like the answer.

Or are you claiming that it wasn’t a right wing hit job and the accusations against Franken were valid?

[OnDoutside]

168. No, you didn't. Try again.

[Trumpocalypse]

169. Yes I did

[MicaelS]

115. So if a person gets accused of sexual harassment..

They can be fired without any other investigation?

[Trumpocalypse]

123. That is up to the owners

of the business.

[BlueJac]

104. She has to live with it now...

good luck with that bad move!

[Historic NY]

105. Meanwhile all of Frankens accusers faded back into the wood work...

isn't that simply amazing. “eight credible allegations against him of sexual harassment for groping.”

[beachbum bob]

106. this disqualifies her in my eyes and almost all other democrats I personally know, a MISTAKE she

will not walk back is not a sign of any type of leader

[jmellman]

107. Gillibrand did not call for due process -- she demanded his resignation

... She is last on my list. Al Franken may have been "handsy" but was a victim of the purity police (IMHO). I get that this has been a pet issue for Gillibrand for years – but she came off as a complete opportunist. It was clear that this was a hit job from the right wing and at the very least, Franken should have been given space to provide either a defense or have due process. We're supposed to be for the rule of law, not the rule of Twitter.

[Trumpocalypse]

131. Along with over 30 other Senators the very same morning

And due process refers to criminal or civil trials not to an ethics committee hearing. Do you really think the republicans on the ethics committee would have given Franken a fair hearing?

[Politicub]

109. I don't think Gillibrand has much of a chance

She has a long hill to climb for national name recognition.

I do wish we could move beyond Franken's resignation. I loved him, too, and think the senate is lesser without him there. On the other hand, I also was troubled by the eight allegations of sexual harassment.

He had baggage. That is behind us as a party. Now we need to focus on what's next instead of what was.

[Trumpocalypse]

132. Well said

I doubt Gillibrand will last until Iowa. She is too bland and doesn’t generate any excitement.

But the demonization of of her regarding the whole Franken episode is unreal and most of it is not based on the actual facts of what really happened.

[Lotusflower70]

129. Meh

It doesn't matter now. She is not going to get the nomination.

[still_one]

151. She was not the only candidate calling for Al Franken's resignation, and for those arguing that "she

led the charge", doesn't cut it. The other candidates such as Harris, Sanders, Warren, etc., made their own independent judgements on it, and called for his resignation also.

While personally I am not happy about what happened, in the end it was Al's decision to step down.

The reason to vote or not vote for Gillibrand in the primaries should not be based on one issue, but one their views on all issues, and how they distinguish themselves from the other candidates

[LongtimeAZDem]

154. No, but she's the only one running on it, which is all on her.

[still_one]

156. Can't argue with that reasoning. Excellent point

[brooklynite]

158. She's NOT running on it. She responded to questions about it.

She IS running generically on stopping sexual harrassment. Do you know of a candidate who disagrees?

We need to stop sexual assault and harassment.

Kirsten has never backed down from a fight if it’s the right thing to do, even if it’s hard or politically difficult. She has been the national leader in Congress on the fight for justice and accountability on behalf of sexual assault survivors, even before the #MeToo movement and our crucial national conversation around sexual abuse. And she’s led this fight no matter who she’s up against—whether it’s the Pentagon, major universities, President Trump or even her own party.

[Botany]

153. Bottom Line: Gillibrand helped out in a Roger Stone Rat Fucking Operation of Al Franken in order ...

... to advance her career.

[maineac]

170. Got fundraising call today

Gillibrand has not met the 65,000 contributors requirement. I received a call this morning to make it possible for her to be in the debates. I said after a bit that I really couldn't support her because of her Franken decision. I think they hear this a lot. The caller then said that there was more to it that was kept secret from the public. I found this troubling without any evidence and seemed like another attack on Franken in her self-interest.

[Gothmog]

171. The Franken incident is mentioned in the comments in this article

Last edited Wed Jul 10, 2019, 04:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet