Sanders renews call for Trump to step down after Franken resignation
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) suggested Sunday that Trump should follow in Sen. Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) footsteps and resign over the allegations of sexual misconduct that have been leveled against him.
“Here you have a president who has been accused by many women of assault, who says on a tape that he assaulted women,” Sanders said on "Meet the Press." “He might want to think about doing the same.”
Sanders had also suggested the Trump step down from office on Thursday.
"We have a president of the United States who acknowledged on a tape widely seen all over the country that he's assaulted women, so I would hope maybe the president of the United States might pay attention of what's going on and also think about resigning," Sanders said at the time.
Sanders' call on Sunday echoed recent statements by Sens. Cory Booker(D-N.J.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who have also urged Trump to resign over the reports.
Booker made the suggestion in an interview with Vice News on Saturday.
“I just watched Sen. Al Franken do the honorable thing and resign from his office. My question is, why isn’t Donald Trump doing the same thing — who has more serious allegations against him, with more women who have come forward,” Booker said.
“The fact pattern on him is far more damning than the fact pattern on Al Franken,” he added.
Merkley also said that Trump should resign during the daily version of “Meet The Press” last week.
“The president should resign because he certainly has a track record with more than 17 women of horrific conduct,” he said.
More than a dozen women accused Trump of sexual misconduct during his presidential campaign last year.
Former Fox News host Juliet Huddy said Friday that Trump tried to kiss her on the lips in a Trump Tower elevator more than a decade ago.
She said she “didn’t feel threatened,” but was “surprised” by Trump’s move.
Franken announced on Thursday that he will resign from office after facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) resigned Tuesday over similar claims but said his departure was due to health issues.
Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) also resigned Friday after it was revealed he asked female staffers to be surrogates for his child. One former female aide said Franks offered her $5 million to carry his child, and two female staffers said Frank may have suggested that he impregnate them through sexual intercourse.
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