Franken: ‘Irony’ that I’m leaving Senate while the president is a man who has bragged about history of sexual assault

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said Thursday there is some “irony” in the fact that he is resigning his Senate seat while a man who has “bragged” about his history of sexual assault is president.

“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,” Franken said Thursday.

“But this decision is not about me. It’s about the people of Minnesota.”

{mosads}Franken was referring to a 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced last year during the presidential campaign. In it, Trump is heard making lewd comments about women, including that he can get away with kissing women without consent because “when you’re a star, they let you do it.”

Franken also referenced — without using his name — Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, who has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct.

A woman accused Moore of initiating a sexual encounter with her when she was 14 and he was 32. Other women have come forward to allege Moore pursued relationships them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, including one who said Moore sexually assaulted her. Moore has repeatedly denied the allegations.

President Trump earlier this week threw his support behind Moore.

Franken on Thursday announced he is resigning his Senate seat over allegations of groping and other sexual misconduct.

Franken’s decision comes after Democrats on Wednesday turned on their Minnesota colleague, saying it was time for him to step down.