Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Sunday said that Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) should consider resigning following allegations he groped women.
“I think the accusations against him, including many of which he’s admitted, are horrifying. But at this point, he’s going to be before the Ethics Committee. And I would say, in fairness — although the things he’s already admitted to I find to be outrageous and offensive and I do think just on that alone he should consider resigning,” Rubio told CBS Miami.
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When asked whether “groping a woman’s butt,” which Franken has been accused of doing, is grounds for expulsion from the Senate, Rubio said he believes it is.
Multiple women have accused Franken of groping them during photo ops, and radio host Leeann Tweeden said Franken forcibly kissed and groped her during a 2006 USO tour.
Franken has apologized and said he’s “embarrassed and ashamed,” but said he will return to work on Monday.
Sexual harassment has been at the forefront of discussions on Capitol Hill in recent weeks. Franken, Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore (R) and Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) have all faced allegations of sexual misconduct.
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) earlier this month introduced legislation that would overhaul policies to report sexual harassment on Capitol Hill.