"The View" co-host Joy Behar on Wednesday expressed regret that former Sen. Al Franken Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenGOP Senate candidate says Trump, Republicans will surprise in Minnesota Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district Getting tight — the psychology of cancel culture MORE (D-Minn.) resigned last year amid sexual harassment allegations, asking guest Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (D-N.Y.) if she was afraid voters will turn against her in the 2020 presidential election over the matter.

"It’s a personal thing for me because I’m a friend of his and I thought he was a great senator," said Behar during an interview with Gillibrand. "I really miss him now, because I think that he had a mouth on him and a brain."

Franken, a former comedian like Behar, resigned from the Senate in December 2017 after eight women accused him of sexual harassment. He had been in the Senate since 2009 and was considered a viable 2020 presidential candidate before the allegations surfaced.

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"You have certainly a brain," Behar continued, speaking to Gillibrand. "A lot of them have a brain. But this guy had a way of talking that I think he would have challenged Trump and the Republicans in a different way."



"I actually miss him and I’m sorry that he’s gone," Behar added, before asking, "Do you think the Democratic voters are going to turn on you for this?”



"No, I don’t,” replied Gillibrand, who was the first senator to call for Franken to step down. “I think there are a few influential and powerful Democratic donors and elites who are angry about it. But if they’re going to be angry about me standing up for women who were groped, that’s on them."

Gillibrand currently has 0.8 percent of the vote in the Real Clear Politics (RCP) index of polls.

Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Democratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Harris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle MORE leads in the RCP average with 29.3 percent, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.) with 23 percent.