Departing Sen. Al Franken (D., Minn.) announced a "series of final speeches" on Wednesday, although he has still not announced the actual date he is leaving office.
Accused by seven women of past sexual harassment or misconduct, Franken announced his resignation "in the coming weeks" on Dec. 7 after he lost the support of the majority of his Democratic colleagues. The senator did not apologize to his accusers in his remarks.
As the Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe noted Wednesday, Franken has yet to say when exactly he is departing, but added that the former comedian does still plan on leaving the Senate.
.@SenFranken is speaking on the Senate floor, giving what he says will be the first in a series of speeches on issues he's worked on over his nine years in office. He has yet to announce a formal resignation date.
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) December 20, 2017
Franken is still making plans to leave and his appointed successor, @tinaflintsmith, was in Washington this week and met with Senate Minority Leader Schumer to plan for next year, people familiar with their meeting say.
— Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) December 20, 2017
But it does not appear that the Minnesota Democrat will resign in the immediate future.
"I'm taking to the Senate floor to give the first of what will be a series of final speeches, this one focused on my work to improve education on behalf of Minnesotans and all Americans," Franken tweeted Wednesday.
I'm taking to the Senate floor to give the first of what will be a series of final speeches, this one focused on my work to improve education on behalf of Minnesotans and all Americans. https://t.co/X06tvNgCfe
— U.S. Senator Al Franken (@SenFranken) December 20, 2017
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D.) has announced the appointment of Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D.) to replace Franken, and the Washington Post reported that Smith has already met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) to begin planning for next year.
Since Franken announced his plans to step down, some Democrats have called for him to reverse his decision. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.), who called on him to resign in the first place, has since said he regrets rushing to make such a statement.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), who did not ever call on Franken to step down, ripped the Democrats who called on Franken to resign, saying their treatment of him was "atrocious."