Democrat Minnesota Senator Al Franken submitted his resignation later at 12PM CT to Governor Mark Dayton.

Franken resigned after numerous females accused him of sexual misconduct, including groping and attempts to plant wet kisses on their mouths.

Sen. Al Franken’s letter of resignation to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton. Franken resigned at noon today, Minnesota time. pic.twitter.com/L2ziNolEZG — Jennifer Brooks (@stribrooks) January 2, 2018

Dayton announced last month that he chose Democrat Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to take over Franken’s seat. She will finish his term and then run for his seat during the special election in November. Smith already has one Republican opponent in the race: Minnesota State Senator Karin Housley.

Minnesota Public Radio wrote that Smith is expected to be sworn in around noon on Wednesday.

Franken announced his decision on December 7 in a speech on the Senate floor after seven females accused him of sexual misconduct. Radio news anchor Leeann Tweeden started the avalanche in November when she showed a photo of Franken groping her breasts as she slept during a USO tour in the Middle East in 2006. She also said that Franken pressured her to practice a kiss for a skit. She said no, but Franken pushed even more to the point that she became uncomfortable and finally said yes in order to get him to leave her alone:

We did the line leading up to the kiss and then 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. I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn’t be so nice about it the next time.

Tweeden’s bravery gave other women courage to come forward. One woman said he groped her butt during a photo-op at the Minnesota State Fair. An Army vet said he cupped her breasts right before they took a photo together during another USO Tour in the Middle East.



