Things that make you go hmmm

Al Franken says he'll resign 'in the coming weeks.' What does that mean?

December 7, 2017

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } December 7, 2017

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) on Thursday announced his intention to resign "in the coming weeks" after two more women came forward Wednesday to allege he had inappropriately touched them. The senator's phrasing, though, immediately stood out to some:

This is a pretty striking speech from Franken. Says he'll resign "in the coming weeks" but strongly defending himself nonetheless.
— Pete Schroeder (@peteschroeder) December 7, 2017

One theory that emerged was that Franken is potentially waiting for the results of the Alabama Senate race, in which the Republican candidate, Roy Moore, is accused of pursuing and assaulting teenage girls. The Alabama special election will be held next week, on Dec. 12.

Looks like Franken is trying to temporize: "In the coming weeks" he'll resign? He's hoping that Roy Moore wins and is seated, and he'll be able to reverse his resignation.
— Steven F. Hayward (@stevenfhayward) December 7, 2017

I doubt it for many reasons, but the cynical read would be that "in the coming weeks" is Franken buying time to see if circumstances somehow change
— Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) December 7, 2017

Franken made a point to allude to Moore in his speech, too. "I am aware of the irony that I am leaving while ... a man who has preyed on underage girls is running for the Senate with the full support of his party," he said. Watch Franken's remarks here at The Week.