Many top Democratic donors are still angry at New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for being the first to call on fellow Democratic Sen. Al Franken to resign nearly two years ago after eight women accused him of sexually inappropriate behavior.

Seven of Gillibrand’s current and former Senate Democratic colleagues walked back their decision to call for Franken’s resignation in a recent New Yorker magazine article that examined why the former Minnesota senator quit before going through a Senate Ethics Committee investigation into the allegations.

But Gillibrand, whose presidential campaign is struggling to attract both donors and poll support, said she would do it all over again.

“Once we got to eight allegations, I couldn’t stay silent anymore. I couldn’t defend him,” Gillibrand told The Chronicle’s “It’s All Political” podcast. “Sen. Franken is the one who decided not to stick it out and do his Ethics Committee investigation. What he’s not entitled to is my silence.

“I made my choice and he made his choice. He chose to resign,” Gillibrand said. “He chose not to explain himself to his colleagues. He chose not to stick it out until his next election. And why I’m being blamed for his decisions his shocking.”

Gillibrand continues to be the focus of scorn from Democrats upset that Franken resigned. But four other presidential candidates also called for Franken to quit: Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Michael Bennet of Colorado and Cory Booker of New Jersey.

Why does Gillibrand think she’s singled out on this issue?

“I don’t know,” she said. “I did know at the time that there is no prize for anyone who stands up to a powerful, popular person who is good at his day job.”

Gillibrand believes there is a road back for people accused of sexual impropriety.

“I’m a very faith-driven person, and I fundamentally believe in redemption,” said Gillibrand, a Christian who was raised in the Catholic Church. “I think anyone who has made a mistake on any level — whether they have committed a crime or whether they made a mistake — anyone can emerge from that. But it takes certain steps. It takes humility, to recognize your wrong. It takes having some matter of accountability, whatever that might be.

“If it’s a mistake, it might just mean saying you’re sorry and truly expressing your remorse,” she said. “And then just making a decision to go from there.”

But Gillibrand says she hasn’t seen anyone do it successfully.

“I haven’t seen it, but it doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been done,” she said. “But I think redemption and forgiveness is there for everyone. You just have to have the humility and grace to understand that we do make mistakes and then have the courage to take responsibility in whatever way is appropriate. And then decide you’re going to lead from a better place.”

Meanwhile, her presidential campaign continues to stall.

Gillibrand remains confident that she will qualify for the Sept. 12-13 Democratic debate in Houston, even though she’s falling short on both the Democratic National Committee’s requirements — 130,000 donors and 2% support in four party-recognized polls. The deadline is Wednesday.

“I think we’re going to make the debate stage,” Gillibrand said.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicle’s senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @joegarofoli