Democratic Senator Al Franken has announced his resignation from the United States Senate after several women came forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct. He was elected to the Minnesota seat in 2008 and reelected in 2014.

He made a statement on the floor of the United States Senate on Thursday December 7, 2017, saying “I am proud that during my time in the Senate that I have used my power to be a champion of women and that I have earned a reputation as someone who respects the women I work alongside… Serving in the Senate has been the great honor of my life. Nevertheless today I am announcing in the coming weeks I am announcing I will be resigning as a member of the United States Senate. “