December 11, 2017
During a campaign event in Alabama over the weekend, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker called on President Donald Trump to resign over sexual misconduct allegations, just as Minnesota Sen. Al Franken had done last week.
“I just watched Sen. Al Franken do the honorable thing and resign from his office,” Booker said to VICE News.
“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. The fact pattern on him is far more damning than the fact pattern on Al Franken.”
Booker was in Alabama to support Democratic candidate Doug Jones, who is running against Moore, a from chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, for a place in the Senate. Moore has been accused in recent weeks of sexual misconduct with at least eight women, four of whom were between ages 14 and 17 at the times of the alleged assaults or harassments.
Franken, after accusations of misconduct from several women, resigned Thursday; during his announcement, he noted the allegations piled against the president and Moore.
“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, a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party,” Franken said.
During his interview with VICE News, Booker echoed similar sentiments about the president.
“Why hasn’t Donald Trump come forward and said, ‘You know what, in this climate, at this point in this country, I’m going to resign from my position just like Al Franken,” he said.
A recent piece from the Atlantic highlights the 19 women who have accused Trump of misconduct, stretching as far back as 1989, with the most recent report from 2013. Many of the allegations detail groping, forced kissing, and one alleged rape.
Booker also told VICE that Moore should be disqualified from the race in Alabama.
“If a person is banned from a mall they should definitely not be in the United States Senate,” Booker said. He also expressed concern about having to work with Moore.
“I am worried, there are former pages that are showing worry, there are Republican senators that are worried – we’re all worried about this nightmare of a person that could come to the United States Senate.”
Booker has also discussed voting to expel Moore if he were elected to the Senate, though it’s a long shot due to the need for Republican votes.
