Chris Murphy Urges Senator Al Franken to Step Down Amid Harassment Allegations

U.S. senator for Connecticut Chirs Murphy is urging Senator Al Franken to step down amid harassment allegations. 

"The increasing number of women coming forward suggests a pattern of repeated harassment and unacceptable behavior that is impossible to ignore. Senator Franken has denied some of these allegations and has the right to continue to seek a process through the Ethics Committee, but I believe the best course of action for him right now is to step down, as I expect he will do tomorrow," Murphy said in a statement.

Murphy is among his colleagues like Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who are calling for Franken to quit the Senate. 

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said he will make a comment after Franken makes an expected announcement on Thursday.

"I’ve been listening to the courageous women across the nation who have come forward about sexual harassment and assault, as well as my Senate colleagues. I understand that Senator Franken will make an announcement tomorrow. I’ll comment after he speaks," Blumenthal said.

The calls came as another woman accused Franken of sexual misconduct in an account provided to Politico. The accusation brought to seven the number of women accusing Franken of sexual impropriety.

The demands came in rapid succession after Franken on Wednesday vehemently denied a new sexual misconduct accusation that came from a former Democratic congressional aide, who said he tried to forcibly kiss her after a taping of his radio show in 2006.

The Minnesota Democrat said in a statement that the allegation, reported by Politico, was "categorically not true."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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