Al Franken Announces His Resignation

As expected, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) announced that he would be resigning his Senate seat "in the coming weeks." Here are some excerpts from his speech:

“Over the last few weeks, a number of women have come forward to talk about how they felt my actions had affected them. I was shocked. I was upset. But in responding to their claims, I also wanted to be respectful of that broader conversation, because all women deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously. I think that was the right thing to do. I also think it gave some people the false impression that I was admitting to doing things that I in fact haven’t done. [snip] 

“I am proud that during my time in the Senate I have used my power to be a champion of women. And that I have earned a reputation as someone who respects the women I work alongside every day. I know there’s been a very different picture of me painted over the last few weeks, but I know who I really am. I know in my heart that nothing I’ve done as a senator, nothing, has brought dishonor on this institution. [snip] 

“I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party."

Infidel 753 has a good take on all of this.  We're out of words.