Here come the democratic gamers out as expected...
Change your mind and don't resign fellow senators tell Al Franken: Serial groper gets surprise support from colleagues who say he was 'railroaded' despite allegations from 8 womenDemocratic Sen. Al Franken said Dec. 7 that he would quit 'in the coming weeks' after eight women accused him of sexual groping and unwanted kissingAt the time a torrent of female senators demanded hjis head on a plate, but now the tide is turning in the other directionWith the Alabama Senate election and its focus on sexual predators in the rear-view mirror, some Democrats say Franken should change his mind and stayNone of the U-turn supporters is female; the loudest voice belongs to Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat who wants to see Franken face an ethics board By DAVID MARTOSKO, US POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 09:47 EST, 18 December 2017 | UPDATED: 10:06 EST, 18 December 2017
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Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken has a new lease on political life after four of his colleagues have stepped forward to say his promised resignation over groping and sexual harassment allegations should be put on pause.
Politico cited four lawmakers on Monday saying Franken was too quick to throw himself on the live grenade of the #MeToo movement and deserved a second chance.
None of them are women.
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin criticized lawmakers who demanded Franken's head on a spit and then embraced him for pledging to quit.
'I hope they have enough guts ... and enough conscience and enough heart to say, "Al, we made a mistake asking prematurely for you to leave",' he said.
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U.S. Senator Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, announced his resignation on Dec. 7 over allegations of sexual misconduct – but never said when he would be quitting
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Fellow Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said Monday morning on CNN that Franken deserves to stay as long as an ethics panel of his peers clears him
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Franken and his wife Franni (left) arrived at the Senate to deliver what amounted to a vague non-apology on Dec. 7 following eight separate charges of sexual misconduct
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Accused: After the first allegation by radio broadcaster Leeann Tweeden, who produced this notorious photograph, Al Franken had a steady drip of follow-up accusers
Politico cited another unnamed senator's change of heart and reported that Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont has privately told Franken he's in his corner.
But it's Manchin who has been most outspoken.
The West Virginian, a moderate often courted by Republicans for aisle-crossing compromise, told CNN on Monday morning that Franken's slow-motion political hari-kiki was 'most certainly' premature.
'I definitely think he should not resign,' Manchin said. 'I think he should submit himself ... and go through this complete process of an extended ethics review' instead.
Gov. Mark Dayton has already appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith as Franken's successor, following an emotional December 7 speech in which the senator said he would quit 'in the coming weeks.
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Lindsay Menz (left) claims Franken grabbed her rear end while they posed for this photograph
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The fifth woman to accuse Franken of sexual misconduct, Stephanie Kemplin said he groped her during this picture in 2003, during a USO tour event in Kuwait
Al Franken announces Senate resignation
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In the next breath, though, he blasted the 'irony' of his own departure while President Donald Trump remains in office despite his own 'history of sexual assault' and the Senate candidacy of accused teen-fundler Roy Moore in Alabama.
Moore lost his race in a shocker but Trump is still in the Oval Office. And Franken's Pearl Harbor Day speech now looks like an attempt to cool the fires circling him while leaving a Washington-sixed loophole.
Franken had sounded his own political career's death-knell in response to a zero-tolerance drumbeat from fellow Democrats. Many of them are now in a forgiving mood.
The allegations against Franken began in mid-November when Leeann Tweeden, now a Los Angeles radio anchor, accused him of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour in Afghanistan.
Other allegations followed, including a woman who says Franken put his hand on her buttocks as they posed for a photo at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010.
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Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith has already been chosen to replace Franken, b ut the changeover is in jeaopardy now that Franken sees an opening to stay
EIGHT ISN'T ENOUGH: AL FRANKEN'S FEMALE ACCUSERS
Stephanie Kemplin
The 41-year-old Army vet says Franken grabbed her breast when the two posed for a photo at a USO event in Kuwait in December 2003. Kemplin is a registered Republican who voted for Trump in the presidential election.
'I remember clenching up and how you just feel yourself flushed. And I remember thinking, "Is he going to move his hand? Was it an accident? Was he going to move his hand?",' she said. 'He never moved his hand.'
Anonymous former New England elected official
A former chair of a New England town's Selectboard says she was invited to take part in a live taping of Franken's radio show in the spring of 2006. After her interview, she says Franken shook her hand, pulled her close and then forcibly kissed her on the cheek.
'It was onstage in front of a full theater,' she said. 'It was insidious. It was in plain sight and yet nobody saw it.'
Leann Tweeden
The Los Angeles radio news anchor says Franken forcibly kissed her with tongue and then 'jokingly' groped her breasts on a USO tour in 2006.
'He came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine, and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth,' Tweeden wrote. 'I felt disgusted and violated.'
There is also a damning photo of Franken groping her with a mischievous grin while she slept on a military aircraft
Anonymous 38-year-old book editor
This Franken accuser says she met Franken at the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus in June 2007 and that he grabbed her butt while the two took a photo at the event. She describes herself as liberal.
Anonymous
This accuser says she was 21 years old in 2008 when she met Franken at a Democratic fundraiser in Minneapolis. She says Franken grabbed her butt and later suggested that the two visit the bathroom together.
'My immediate reaction was disgust,' she said, 'but my secondary reaction was disappointment.'
Anonymous congressional aide
A former campaign worker said Franken tried to 'forcibly kiss her' after a 2006 taping of his radio show. She recalled ducking to avoid him and that, as she tried to leave Franken told her: 'It's my right as an entertainer.'
Tina Dupuy
The former congressional staffer, wrote an op-ed in The Atlantic titled 'I believe Franken’s accusers because he groped me, too.'
Her encounter came during a Media Matters for America party during the first Obama inauguration weekend, in January 2009. As she posed for a photo with Franken, she recalled that he 'immediately put his hand on my waist, grabbing a handful of flesh. I froze. Then he squeezed. At least twice.'
Lindsey Menz
Stay-at-home mom Lindsey Menz says Franken grabbed her butt as her husband took a picture of her and the senator at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010. She described herself as a Republican who voted for Trump in the presidential election. However, she has voted for Democrats including Minnesota's senior Sen. Amy Klobuchar. She can't remember if she voted for Franken, but believes she did. She now lives in Texas.
Leeann Tweeden: Al Franken 'mashed his lips against my face'
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Two more women told the Huffington Post that Franken squeezed their rear ends at political events during his first campaign for the Senate in 2008.
A fourth, an Army veteran, alleged Franken cupped her breast during a photo on a USO tour in 2003.
Franken has apologized for his behavior but has also disputed some of the allegations.
His vague resignation pledge followed demands from Democrats after a new accusation surfaced in which a former Democratic congressional aide said he tried to forcibly kiss her after a taping of his radio show in 2006.
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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was among a group of female senators who called on Al Franken to resign from the Senate
Al Franken apologizes after he was accused of groping women
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The woman, who was not identified, told Politico that Franken pursued her after her boss had left and she was collecting her belongings. She said that she ducked to avoid his lips and that Franken told her: 'It's my right as an entertainer.'
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democrats' boss in the U.S. Senate, is not joining calls for Franken to make a U-turn.
'Schumer and the vast majority of the caucus like Sen. Franken and will miss him,' said a Senate Democratic leadership aide, 'but did what they felt was best and stand by it.'
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The comments below have not been moderated.
micheal collins, newyork, United States, 38 minutes ago
I think it's funny how Roy Moore lost the election those women just dissappear now Al isn't going anywhere this is we hy I didn't believe the women and the Democrats
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John K, Woodside Ca., United States, about an hour ago
I love the morality of the left- shifts all over the place. This has nothing to do with Moore. If Moore guilty he should fry but it has zilch to do with anyone else.
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United Steel Worker, Iron Range, United States, about an hour ago
Democrat men have always made up the core of the War On Women. Dem women have always used WOW as a political ploy. Who will win this episode of The Pigs vs The Posers?
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Incaman, New York, United States, about an hour ago
A face only the muther could luv
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rsafety, huntington, United States, about 2 hours ago
Yes do that Al the Pig. That will play right into the Republican War on Women game plan. It will show exactly how the Dem. (Billy boy) treats women.
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Brian Morrison, Dallas, United Kingdom, about an hour ago
Except those pics were pretty ridiculous. Obviously not even touching the girl...
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SGrant73, New York City, United States, about 2 hours ago
Franken is garbage and should keep his word for once.
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Bretttf, westlake village, United States, about 2 hours ago
There is more than allegations against. Everyone has seen the pictures as proof.
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The Fox, Larimore, United States, about 2 hours ago
The most sacred rule in Washington: It's only wrong when the other party does it.
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keeping real, Mcburg, United States, about 2 hours ago
They don¿t want him to resign, because when they are outed for sexual harassment they won¿t be pressured to resign.
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None4ya, Bayou City, United States, about 2 hours ago
No surprise here. Demon-rats always support their own.
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Gede gede, Chicago, United States, about an hour ago
Still waiting for that one to catch on?
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