Pick of the Issue this week is Jane Mayer’s extraordinary “The Case of Al Franken,” an investigation of the sexual harassment accusations that caused Franken to resign his U.S. Senate seat in December, 2017. It’s extraordinary because it carefully, methodically, and extensively enacts the justice it calls for in Franken’s case. It’s the opposite of a rush to judgment. Mayer appears to have spoken to just about everyone who could possibly shed light on the eight allegations against Franken. She meticulously reports and analyzes the evidence. In the end, she doesn’t absolve Franken, but she does put the allegations (especially the damning photo of him with his hands outstretched towards the chest of his U.S.O. co-star Leeann Tweeden) in context. And she shows beyond a doubt that Franken was denied due process. My own take-away from Mayer’s piece is that Franken shouldn’t have resigned. He should’ve listened to his wife who wanted him to stay on and fight the charges. But the pressure on him was immense; thirty-six Democratic senators publicly demanded his resignation. So Franken caved. Now, he regrets doing so. After reading Mayer’s piece, I understand his regret.
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