Al Franken

Al Franken is a former US senator from Minnesota as of sometime in 2008-2009 until 2017 (see below). In his previous careers he was a writer for Saturday Night Live, comedic performer, author, movie actor, and liberal talk radio host.

Scandals unearthed during campaign
In April of 2008, early in his campaign for the US Senate, Franken revealed a complicated issue over state income taxes, interest, and penalties that he owes, as well as a $25,000 fine for not carrying workers' compensation insurance in New York State.

"The campaign said last month it would pay a $25,000 fine to the state of New York for failure to carry workers' compensation insurance there."

"The U.S. Senate candidate himself broke the story that he owed at least 17 states some $70,000 in taxes, interest and penalties. He said he overpaid taxes by a similar amount in Minnesota and New York between 2003 and 2007."

Recount
The 2008 Minnesota campaign for the Senate seat was one of the closest in Minnesota history. On election night it seemed that Norm Coleman would keep his seat, however, the margin of victory was less than one half of one percent of the vote, triggering a mandatory recount. After the state had finished, it declared Franken the winner by 225 votes. Coleman was unhappy with this result and sought redress from the courts, like this guy did, hoping for similar results. He was denied such satisfaction when, on June 30th, 2009, the Minnesota Supreme Court finally ruled the recount in favor of Franken, and Coleman decided not to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. Thus, Al Franken is now Senator Franken. Doggone it, people like him. This allowed the Senate to have a critical filibuster proof majority for a time. His reelection was a much clearer affair and he easily won without a recount.

Resignation
After charges of sexual misconduct first made by former Playboy model Leeann Tweeden, who performed with him on a USO tour, as well as several other women in the weeks after Tweeden's story came out, Senator Franken announced his resignation on Dec. 7, 2017. He formally resigned on January 2, 2018. Of particular note is that Franken is one, if not the only, of many others accused of similar misconduct around the same time to take his lumps and apologize for his actions, as opposed to doubling down and denying any misconduct took place.