This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 24, 2018, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand cited a 'double standard' in a speech, pointing out that female senators were more frequently asked to comment on Al Franken's resignation than their male colleagues.
Ms. Gillibrand argued that Senator Doug Jones's victory in Alabama's special election was partly due to Mr. Franken's decision to step down, allowing the Democratic Party to present a clear message against Republican candidate Roy S. Moore.
However, in a recent interview with The New Yorker, Mr. Franken alleged that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer forced him to resign, threatening that the entire Democratic caucus would demand his departure if he didn't comply by 5 p.m.
People close to Mr. Schumer disputed this account, citing Mr. Franken's failure to adequately address the allegations within the Democratic caucus. Mr. Schumer was one of the last Democrats to publicly condemn Mr. Franken.
“Senator Schumer warned Senator Franken repeatedly that it was certain there would be procedures used against him in the Senate, including censure and stripping of committee assignments,” said Justin Goodman, a spokesman for Mr. Schumer.
Seven current and former Democratic senators, including five men and two women, have since expressed regret over their decision to call for Mr. Franken's resignation.
