Politics / Al Franken Al Franken Has Set a Date for His Senate Departure Jan. 2, according to a spokesperson By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Dec 20, 2017 6:57 PM CST Copied In this Dec. 12, 2017 file photo, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., attends a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite File) Sen. Al Franken plans to officially leave the US Senate on Jan. 2, the AP reports. The announcement Wednesday from a Franken spokesperson should put to rest questions surrounding the timing of the Minnesota Democrat's departure and concern that he might reverse his planned resignation. Franken announced earlier this month that he would leave "in the coming weeks" amid several sexual misconduct allegations. His office later indicated it would come sometime in early January. Gov. Mark Dayton's choice to replace Franken, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, is set to be sworn in Jan. 3. Smith will keep some of Franken's top staff when she takes office. She plans to run for the seat in 2018. (More Al Franken stories.) Report an error