Sen. Al Franken will resign, Democratic official says
Updated: 4:24 p.m. | Posted: 3:50 p.m.
A Democratic official who has spoken to Al Franken and key aides says Franken will resign his Minnesota Senate seat on Thursday, the official tells MPR News.
The official spoke to Franken and separately to Franken's staff. A staff member told the official that Franken had gone to his Washington home to discuss his plans with family.
Grow the Future of Public Media
MPR News is supported by Members. Gifts from individuals power everything you find here. Make a gift of any amount today to become a Member!
MPR News agreed to withhold the official's name because the official wanted to give Franken the chance to talk about his decision in his own words.
Franken faced a cascade of calls Wednesday from fellow Democrats and other political allies to leave office in response to multiple allegations of sexual harassment.
After MPR News reported the planned resignation, a tweet from Franken's official account said it was "not accurate."
"No final decision has been made and the senator is still talking with his family," the tweet read.
His departure would require DFL Gov. Mark Dayton to name a successor. That person would serve until the 2018 election when Minnesota voters would fill it for the final two years of Franken's term.