Amid a rising chorus of calls Wednesday for U.S. Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota to resign, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said Franken should step down.
“I think Senator Franken should resign,” Reed said in a statement. “The accumulating accusations and acknowledgment that inappropriate behavior took place cannot be countenanced. Sexual harassment must not be tolerated and this is part of a larger national discussion that is long overdue and must lead to fundamental change and lasting progress.”
Calls by senators for Franken to resign escalated after more reports that he inappropriately touched several women.
Said Whitehouse, “Given what we have learned in recent weeks, I expect Senator Franken to step aside.”
Whitehouse spokeswoman Meaghan McCabe said the senator’s statement is tantamount to a call for Franken to step down.
Franken is expected to make an announcement Thursday.
This post has been updated.
