washington u.s. democratic senator al franken announce resignation thursday face series sexual misconduct allegations republican representative trent frank also say step hit ethics charge franken buffet weeks sexual harassment charge pressure party colleagues say senate floor would leave weeks although deny allegations question others 66-year-old former comedian minnesota see rise star democratic party know heart nothing do senator nothing bring dishonor institution say nevertheless today announce come weeks resign member unite state senate hours late frank announce resignation two former staff members complain discussions efforts find surrogate mother deeply regret discussion option process workplace cause distress say frank first elect arizona congressional seat 2002 outspoken opponent abortion frank say statement wife long struggle infertility developments come congress already hold low regard voters accord reuters/ipsos poll 20 percent approve way congress handle job 70 percent disapprove recent weeks charge sexual misconduct take prominent people worlds entertainment media politics somewhat rare members senate house representatives resign office veteran democratic representative john conyers also resign early week amid sexual harassment accusations deny house ethics committee say thursday investigate yet another lawmaker blake farenthold republican representative texas face allegations sexual harassment discrimination retaliation involve former female staff member franken high profile lawmakers hit allegations past weeks reuters independently verify accusations franken frank conyers farenthold franken seat initially fill democrat appoint minnesota democratic governor mean republicans slim majority senate change allegations franken grope try kiss women without consent begin surface three weeks ago initially say embarrass ashamed behavior would resign majority democratic colleagues senate call wednesday resignation new allegation deny franken hit news allegations simply true others remember differently franken say thursday strike tone defiance also seek contrast two prominent republicans president donald trump senate candidate roy moore people aware irony fact leave man brag tape history sexual assault sit oval office man repeatedly prey young girls campaign senate full support party say trump hear brag kiss forcibly touch women 2005 videotape surface last year run white house apologize remark call private locker-room talk say do things talk trump also deny allegations time least 12 women sexual advance grope past moore run senate alabama special election tuesday accuse several women sexual assault misconduct teenagers moore early 30s moore 70 deny accusations reuters independently verify trump back moore senate republicans cool toward candidacy press franken step aside democrats try capture moral high grind draw distinction party republicans every workplace america include u.s. senate must confront challenge harassment misconduct say amy klobuchar franken fellow democratic senator minnesota similarly house republican speaker paul ryan say thursday tell frank resign special election schedule determine replacement frank democrat appoint initially replace franken departure could complicate party efforts maintain build 46 senate seat hold two independent senators also vote democrats republicans defend eight seat congressional elections november 2018 democrats defend 26 minnesota hold special election franken seat election fill franken seat could close run 2008 race decide extensive recount minnesota supreme court weigh 2016 presidential election democrat hillary clinton state less percentage point franken frank resign misconduct charge batter congress