Sen. Patrick Leahy Credit: File: Paul Heintz
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said Monday he now regrets calling for Sen. Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) resignation over allegations of sexual misconduct.

“I have stood for due process throughout my years as a prosecutor and in chairing the Judiciary Committee,” Leahy said in a written statement. “I regret not doing that this time. The Ethics Committee should have been allowed to investigate and make its recommendation.”

Twelve days ago, Leahy joined a group of Democratic senators calling for Franken to resign. The Minnesota senator announced the next day that he would do so in the “coming weeks.”

“I am concerned that even a prompt Ethics Committee investigation and recommendations will not come soon enough,” Leahy said in his December 6 statement. “He has to step aside. I hope as a nation that we are beginning to come to terms with the systemic problem of sexual harassment and assault, but we still have a long way to go.”

Leahy’s latest position puts him in line with his original stance. In late November he told Seven Days he would wait for the outcome of a Senate Ethics Committee investigation before weighing in on Franken’s fate.

The Vermont senator’s change of heart was first reported Monday morning by Politico, which cited two unnamed sources claiming Leahy had told Franken he regretted calling for his colleague’s resignation. Leahy declined to comment to Politico but released his latest statement following inquiries from Seven Days. The Politico story quoted Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) saying Franken’s forced resignation was “the most hypocritical thing I’ve ever seen done to a human being.”

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Alicia Freese was a Seven Days staff writer from 2014 through 2018.

8 replies on “Reversing Course Again, Leahy Now Regrets Calling for Franken’s Resignation”

  1. The Dems in government cant tell their asses from their elbows. I guess thats what happens when your mascot is a donkey, you become a true ass. Keep up the good work dems you should have the party completely destroyed by the time the 2018 mid terms roll around.
    #timetovotethebaldguysout

  2. Leahy and Sanders are alike in that neither has the integrity of a two-year old. If it suited Party interests Leahy and Sanders would welcome an ax murderer to their ranks. It would come as no surprise to learn that Leahy and Sanders each have a number of sex abuse skeletons in their closets.

  3. “I guess thats what happens when your mascot is a donkey, you become a true ass.”

    The biggest ass in Washington is occupying the White House. He proves it with idiotic, lying tweets every day.

    And there are many other asses on Capitol Hill in his alleged political party who don’t have the decency or integrity or guts to call him out on his disgusting behavior.

  4. Knowyourass…….. get over it Hillary lost Trump won the economy is doing great the world is respecting America again for the first time in decades and theres nothing your crying can do about it. Try to enjoy the next 7 years.

  5. Looks like Seven Days comments are being trolled by a certain group of people who have little of useful consequence in terms of thoughtful commentary on public policy.

    If they were required to reveal their true identity, perhaps we’d know if they’re real people, if they live in Vermont … and perhaps a few (if they are real and among neighbors) would cease these types of comments. Something to consider….

    Personally, I think it is a sign of strength and integrity when someone–especially a political leader–discovers they’ve made an error and corrects it publicly.

    The weakest among us still need to claim bravado and “I’m right, you’re wrong” and put others down.

  6. Knowyourass….. I guess your a believer in the main stream media fake news. You should try expanding your mind. You rino.

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