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Gillibrand hears criticism for Franken stand

Nov 27, 2018 7:00 am
Natasha Korecki and Laura Nahmias write a story at Politico presenting anecdotal evidence that the quick condemnation of former U.S. Sen. Al Franken by Kirsten Gillibrand, has cost the junior senator from New York some national support. After the first sexual harrassment allegations against Franken surfaced, Gillibrand was quick to call for his resignation. Now, though, according to the story, some major Democratic donors wish they still had Franken in the Senate. Susie Tompkins Buell, a prominent Democratic fundraiser and co-founder of the Esprit and North Face clothing brands, is one of the few sources on the record in the story. Buell said Gillibrand's quick stance on Franken, “stained [Gillibrand’s] reputation as a fair player.” In June, Democratic donor George Soros told The Washington Post he blamed Gillibrand for Franken's resignation, saying she did it, “in order to improve her chances” in the presidential election in 2020. Gillibrand tweeted soon after the story went online, writing, "Silencing women for the powerful, or for your friends, or for convenience, is neither acceptable, nor just." Read the full story at Politico.