Sen. Al Franken's announcement will halt any further push from some of his colleagues to persuade him to hang onto his seat. | Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Franken to resign from Senate in January

Al Franken will resign from the Senate on Jan. 2, his office said Wednesday, ending any uncertainty over whether he would reverse course after announcing earlier this month that he would step down amid a sexual misconduct scandal.

Franken's office also announced that Tina Smith, the Democratic lieutenant governor tapped to succeed him, is expected to be sworn into the Senate on Jan. 3. Franken began collaborating with Smith on a transition soon after she was tapped by Democratic Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton.


The announcement will halt any further push from some of his colleagues to persuade him to hang onto his seat, even after seven women came forward to say he groped or attempted to kiss them without their consent.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told POLITICO earlier this week that their fellow Democrats were "hypocritical" to push Franken toward resignation only to later greet him warmly on the Senate floor after he announced his departure.