Alabama Sen.-elect Doug Jones (D) distanced himself from his future Democratic colleagues Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” saying President Donald Trump doesn’t need to resign following sexual harassment allegations prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Dozens of congressional Democrats — led by Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) — are demanding that Trump step down now due to the old allegations, much as Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) have been pressured to do in recent weeks.
But Jones, fresh off his victory in Alabama last week, in an interview with CNN’s “State of The Union” host Jake Tapper, urged his party to drop that line of thinking and move on to more pressing issues.
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“You know, Jake, where I am on that right now is that those allegations were made before the election, and so people had an opportunity to judge before that election,” Jones told Tapper when asked about whether Trump should resign.
“I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues. Let’s get on with the real issues that are facing people of this country right now, and I don’t think that the president ought to resign at this point. We will see how things go,” Jones added. “But, certainly, those allegations are not new, and he was elected with those allegations at front and center.”
Tapper persisted, asking Jones why disgraced Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) should resign over sexual harassment allegations while Trump is given a pass for “even more horrific allegations.”
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“Well, again, I go back to the fact that those allegations were made, and he was elected president of the United States, and I think the American people spoke on that at this time,” Jones replied. “There’s other things out there, but I think, at this point, we need to move on and try to work with some real issues that are facing the country and not worry about getting at odds with the president any more than we have to.”
Gillibrand told CNN last week she believed Trump should resign after facing “very credible allegations of misconduct and criminal activity.” Trump vehemently denied all of the sexual harassment allegations against him.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) told VICE News earlier in December that the allegations against Trump are “far more damning” than the accusations leveled against Franken, as he wondered why the president wouldn’t “do the honorable thing and resign.”
Dozens of House Democrats have made similar comments, including demanding a congressional investigation of the allegations against Trump.
PoliZette writer Kathryn Blackhurst can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter here.
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