washington democrat al franken face intense pressure members party wednesday resign u.s. senate accusations sexual misconduct minnesota public radio report franken would resign thursday franken office say email final decision make senator still discuss issue family accusations begin surface three weeks ago franken say would remain office work regain trust voters minnesota state represent wednesday call resign come majority democratic colleagues senate include democratic leader chuck schumer almost democratic women chamber put great pressure quit consider senator franken dear friend greatly respect accomplishments high obligation constituents senate step immediately schumer say statement franken say twitter would make announcement thursday offer detail report minnesota public radio cite democratic official speak senator aid late wednesday news website politico report minnesota governor mark dayton expect appoint democratic lieutenant governor tina smith take franken seat resign would hold seat special election 2018. move would leave minnesota race wide open smith would run special election finish franken term go 2020 politico say cite people familiar dayton think franken one number prominent american men politics media entertainment accuse recent months sexual harassment misconduct another accusation franken surface wednesday politico report congressional aide say franken try forcibly kiss 2006 first elect senator franken deny allegations politico report franken office reply request comment report call wednesday mark first time franken democratic colleagues publicly press step since accusations surface party chairman tom perez also press resign schumer call franken immediately politico story publish tell need relinquish senate seat accord person familiar situation struggle decision good senator consider friend senator mazie hirono hawaii write twitter excuse behavior mistreatment women franken apologize behavior early accusations say would cooperate senate ethics committee investigation reuters independently verify claim democrats seek moral high grind wake sexual misconduct accusations numerous public figure include republican roy moore alabama run senate democratic representative john conyers resign tuesday men deny accusations several republican lawmakers initially call moore step race since say decision ultimately alabama voters president donald trump endorse candidate election tuesday franken former comedian rise national prominence cast member long-running television program saturday night live consider rise star democratic party since first elect 2008. democratic senator kirsten gillibrand among say franken resign tell reporters democrats conversations franken senate republican leader mitch mcconnell join groundswell franken say statement believe effectively serve people minnesota u.s. senate long franken minnesota colleague senator amy klobuchar write twitter sexual harassment unacceptable morning speak senator franken know make announcement future tomorrow morning confident make right decision democratic senator franken face pressure resign announcement loom