Al Franken Rallies Supporters To Help Raise Funds For School

Former Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) is slowly reentering public life after being forced to resign over sexual misconduct allegations, releasing a video Monday to thank his supporters for donating to a Native American school in Minnesota.

Franken announced his resignation in December 2017 , after eight women accused him of groping and/or forced kissing.

In an email to supporters on April 25, he wrote: Its been a while since Ive been in touch with you, before asking them to help raise money for the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School at the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota.

The money will fund books for the schools library, including a meaningful collection of books about the history and culture of Native People, according to his email.

In the video, first reported by Politicos Playbook newsletter Monday, he announced that his email had raised over $70,000 for the school, which recently underwent major renovations and dedicated a new building for its high school , a cause he championed while in the Senate.

Thanks to all who made our book drive for the new Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig school on the Leech Lake Rez in MN an enormous success. So far, youve bought >1500 books from the librarians list & donated over $75,000! It will change lives! Thanks! pic.twitter.com/hFTXUjEpEC

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Thanks to all who made our book drive for the new Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig school on the Leech Lake Rez in MN an enormous success. So far, youve bought >1500 books from the librarians list & donated over $75,000! It will change lives! Thanks! pic.twitter.com/hFTXUjEpEC
Al Franken (@alfranken) May 6, 2019

The former senator spoke at the high schools dedication last summer; during his speech, Franken referred to his resignation from the Senate.

It was very meaningful for me and bittersweet. I would like to still be there, he said.

At the dedication, in an interview with local CBS News outlet WCCO, his first since his resignation, he suggested that he was open to seeking public office again.

I havent ruled it out, and I havent ruled it in, he said.

Franken also recently relaunched his website, where he has been writing blog posts about news events, such as special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into President Donald Trump , as well as Attorney General William Barrs Senate testimony last week.

Frankens scandal has become a flashpoint in the 2020 presidential election, as some progressive donors have attacked Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) for calling on Franken to resign and pledged not to support her presidential bid.

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Gillibrand, who has made combating sexual misconduct a major issue during her career, was among dozens of senators who called on Franken to resign .

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website .