Bernie is beginning to have more pull than Hillary Clinton.
Progressives aligned with the Bernie Sanders camp called for replacing disgraced Sen. Al Franken with a fellow Minnesota Democrat, Rep. Keith Ellison, as support grew Friday for the senator’s resignation.
Justice Democrats, a group of former Sanders campaign staffers and others prominent leftists, launched a petition Thursday asking Mr. Franken to resign following the release of a photo showing him groping Leeann Tweeden as she slept on a 2006 USO tour.
“Franken must go. We do not tolerate those who abuse their power,” said Justice Democrats PAC executive director Saikat Chakrabarti in a statement. “Representative Keith Ellison has a proven track record of integrity and fighting for progressive principles.”
Mr. Ellison, the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, has a record as one of the most liberal members of Congress. He became the first Muslim to serve in Congress in 2007.
The petition came amid calls on the left and right for Mr. Franken to resign over his conduct toward Ms. Tweeden, now a KABC-TV Los Angeles news anchor, despite his apology and support for a Senate ethics investigation.
Minnesota state auditor Rebecca Otto, who’s running for governor, called Friday on Mr. Franken to step down, saying, “Al Franken is my friend, but we can’t have a double standard.”
Megan Thomas, president of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said Thursday on Facebook that, “No one should fear their elected representatives, so, sadly, for me, I think the Senator should resign.”
National Democratic leaders such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Patty Murray of Washington condemned Mr. Franken’s behavior but stopped shortly of calling for his resignation.
HT: Clayton Grant