Sen. Al Franken's admission of "completely inappropriate" actions with a radio host who accused him of non-consensual kissing and groping 11 years ago opened up a new wave of recriminations as the political industry confronts its own problems of harassment and abuse.

The second-term Minnesota Democrat, once considered a potential presidential candidate, quickly accepted responsibility for his behavior and expressed unequivocal regret for actions during a USO tour he left undescribed. He also endorsed a congressional ethics inquiry into the incident that occurred prior to his election as senator.

But Republicans, who were reeling from a nonstop week of morally disturbing and politically disastrous allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, were eager to train partisan fire on Franken, if only to even the treacherous political playing field.

GOP lawmakers had been badgered day after day to disavow and cut ties with Moore, who is accused of multiple sexual encounters with teenage girls, at least one of whom was under the age of consent. An undeterred Moore remains in the Dec. 12 special election to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions, even as most national Republicans have abandoned him.

Suddenly, on Thursday, it was Democrats who were placed in the awkward position of grappling with the appropriate consequences for Franken. Most of his colleagues expressed outrage and disgust, but none had called for him to resign, not even a single Republican.

"There is never an excuse for this behavior – ever," Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois said. "What Sen. Franken did was wrong, and it should be referred to the Ethics Committee for review."

Campaign committees for the House and Senate GOP quickly targeted Democrats who had received thousands of dollars of contributions from Franken. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, who faces an expectedly difficult re-election bid next year, announced Franken would no longer appear at a Saturday fundraiser on his behalf. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, another Democrat in competitive 2018 race, said she would unload Franken's $30,000 of donations to a Show-Me State charity. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio indicated they would take the same route to rid themselves of their Franken money.

Some Republican candidates sought to use Franken as a wedge in their own primary battles.

Republican Danny Tarkanian, who is challenging Sen. Dean Heller in Nevada, said he was waiting for the incumbent to "demand that Al Franken resign or be expelled from the Senate. Dean? Dean."

Moore, who is battling fresh accusations that he made unwanted advances toward young women inside an Alabama mall, even inserted himself into the Franken episode by framing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's reaction as hypocritical.

"Al Franken admits guilt after photographic evidence of his abuse surfaces. Mitch: 'Let's investigate,' Moore tweeted. "In Alabama, ZERO evidence, allegations 100% rejected. Mitch: 'Moore must quit immediately or be expelled.'"

The incidents surrounding Franken and Moore are certainly not exact parallels. For one thing, Moore has steadfastly denied every allegation even in the face of mounting evidence, whereas Franken quickly apologized for his transgression, the only one alleged to date.

But they are presenting difficult questions for political leaders in both parties on the distinctions between redeemable and disqualifying behavior for those accused. Is one accusation, perhaps isolated, enough to vanquish a politician? Does the type, extent and timing of the troubling conduct matter? Should democracy at the ballot box decide?

Hovering over this transformational environment where women feel newly empowered to come forward and share their harrowing stories is President Donald Trump, who faced his own allegations of sexual misdeeds as a candidate last year. Trump denied them all, and in some cases disparaged his accusers – and survived what appeared to be an untenable political position.

But that experience also may explain why the commander in chief has been so noticeably muted about the accusations surrounding both Moore and Franken.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that Trump believes the charges against Moore are "very troubling" but that Alabama voters would decide his fate. In Franken's case, she said the Senate ethics committee was the appropriate venue to adjudicate.

But Trump won't be able to maintain that silence. He will be dogged by these questions until he addresses them head-on, as will Moore and Franken. Given the refreshed focus on the sexual assault epidemic that's plagued the country, the president will likely have to respond to additional queries about his own past.