Sen. Al Franken will return to work amid sexual harassment allegations Read Story Associated Press

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken broke his silence Sunday after being swept into a nationwide tide of sexual harassment allegations, saying he feels "embarrassed and ashamed" but looks forward to returning to work on Monday and gradually regaining voters' trust. The Democrat spoke to a handful of media outlets in Minnesota in the first interviews he's granted after four women publicly accused him of misconduct.

Franken ashamed amid groping claims, will return to work

In a Nov. 15, 2017 file photo, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., speaks during the Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Franken has agreed to talk with a handful of Minnesota media outlets on Sunday, Nov. 26, marking his first interviews since the Democrat was swept into a nationwide tide of sexual harassment allegations.

The Wall Street Journal: Trump stands by Roy Moore, rips Democratic rival

President Donald Trump reiterated his stance that the election of Democrat Doug Jones to an Alabama Senate seat would mark a serious blow to the Republican agenda, while not explicitly saying he backed GOP nominee Roy Moore, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct with teenagers several decades ago. "The last thing we need in Alabama and the U.S. Senate is a Schumer/Pelosi puppet," Trump said Sunday on Twitter, referencing Democratic leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California.

Trump: Electing a Democrat in Alabama “would be a disaster”

President Donald Trump said Sunday that electing a Democrat as Alabama's next senator "would be a disaster," making clear the success of his legislative agenda outweighs widespread GOP repulsion at the prospect of seating Republican Roy Moore, who is dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations, including claims that the 70-year-old Moore sexually assaulted or molested two teenage girls while he was in his 30s, have made the Dec. 12 election a referendum on "the character of the country" that transcends partisan politics, said GOP Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, as the party establishment cringed at Trump's latest intervention in the closely contested race.

Lawmakers want swift sexual harassment consequences, but split over calls for resignation

In this April 4, 2017, file photo, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., speaks during a hearing of the House Judiciary subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is defending Conyers as an "icon" for women's rights and declining to say whether the longtime lawmaker should resign over allegations that he sexually harassed female staff members.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: John Conyers ‘will do the right thing’

WASHINGTON House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Sunday that Rep. John Conyers deserves due process as the House Ethics Committee probes sexual harassment allegations against the congressman and his use of office funds to settle one case. "John Conyers is an icon in our country," said Pelosi, D-Calif., on NBC's Meet the Press .

GOP Senator On Roy Moore: ‘I Want To Be On The Side Of Right’

Republican senators on Sunday continued to distance themselves from alleged sexual predator Roy Moore, while President Donald Trump reiterated his implicit support of the Alabama GOP Senate candidate. WASHINGTON - Republican senators on Sunday continued to distance themselves from alleged sexual predator Roy Moore, while President Donald Trump reiterated his implicit support of the Alabama GOP Senate candidate.

Trump Sticks With Moore as Republican Senators Want Him Gone

President Donald Trump doubled down on his call for Alabama voters to defeat Democrat Doug Jones, even as Republican senators want Roy Moore, their party's nominee in the state's U.S. Senate race, to drop out amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The president avoided endorsing Moore by name in two fiery Twitter postings on Sunday before a final Thanksgiving holiday morning at one of his golf courses in South Florida.

Pentagon tried to block independent report on child sex among Afghan forces, Senate office says

The Pentagon tried to block an independent assessment of child sex abuse crimes committed by Afghan soldiers and police, instead insisting on the creation of its own report offering a far less authoritative review of human rights violations perpetrated by U.S. allies, according to an aide to Sen. Patrick Leahy . Although the report released Nov. 16 by the Defense Department Inspector General's office reached the grim conclusion that, for years, U.S. personnel have been inadequately trained to report such crimes, a parallel investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction is thought to contain a much more detailed accounting of the problem's severity.

Sheriff Arpaio pursued case to hurt Sen. Flake, lawsuit saysAssociated Press

A lawsuit set to go to trial next month marks the latest legal action brought against former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio over allegations he pursued a trumped-up criminal case to get publicity and embarrass an adversary. U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake's adult son alleges Arpaio pursued felony animal cruelty charges against him and his then-wife in a bid to do political damage to the senator.

Sen. Jeff Flake’s son files lawsuit against Joe ArpaioNew York Daily News

The son of Arizona's Republican Sen. Jeff Flake filed a lawsuit against Joe Arpaio claiming the former sheriff pursued criminal charges for publicity and political gain. Austin Flake claims the notorious Maricopa County sheriff pursued felony animal cruelty charges against him and his ex-wife in an attempt to damage his father's political career, according to the malicious-prosecution lawsuit.

Judges Bill O’Neill and Roy Moore affront Lady Justice: Darcy cartoon

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill's tone deaf, sexist Facebook post, and Cleveland.com interview defending Roy Moore, were an insult to all women, including the proverbial Lady Justice. O'Neill had posted on Facebook that with "the dogs of war...calling for the head of Senator Al Franken" he believed it was "time to speak up on behalf of all heterosexual males."

In 3rd, a majority minority campaign

Niki Tsongas was first elected in 2007, breaking a decades-long streak of male dominance in the state's congressional delegation. No woman had represented Massachusetts in the U.S. House or Senate for 25 years, since Rep. Margaret Heckler had been defeated.

Rural relief or rich get richer? GOP seeks to slash the estate tax

In the century that Pat Snook's family has run a cattle operation in southeast Texas, she and her relatives have paid the federal estate tax three times to account for acreage, equipment and other assets being passed from one generation to the next. "You don't mind paying it one time," said Snook, who lives in Livingston, about an hour northeast of Houston.

Weinstein is why Moore matters

If not for the revelations about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and the subsequent fallout, it's likely Republican Senate candidate and former judge Roy Moore's accusers would have stayed silent. The courage women have found in the wake of Weinstein has dredged up lots of old stories of abuse and harassment, not just those alleged about Moore.

Nazis Are Just Like You and Me, Except They’re Nazis

Why Trump Stands by Roy Moore, Even as It Fractures His Party - By the time Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, made the last of his repeated pleas to President Trump to keep his distance from the Senate candidacy of Roy S. Moore, it was too late. In America's Heartland, the Nazi Sympathizer Next Door - HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio - Tony and Maria Hovater were married this fall.

The State Department Is Reportedly Snubbing Ivanka’s India Trip

Why Trump Stands by Roy Moore, Even as It Fractures His Party - By the time Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, made the last of his repeated pleas to President Trump to keep his distance from the Senate candidacy of Roy S. Moore, it was too late. In America's Heartland, the Nazi Sympathizer Next Door - HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio - Tony and Maria Hovater were married this fall.