Al Franken's Final Speech on Senate Floor Addresses 'War for Truth'

Al Franken said in his final floor speech in the U.S. Senate that "it feels like we are losing the war for truth" and took parting shots at President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, according to The Hill newspaper.

Franken, the junior senator from Minnesota, resigned from Congress after numerous women accused him of forcibly kissing or groping them, The Hill said. Franken, who had said earlier that he was planning on a "a series of final speeches," said Thursday that his remarks Wednesday would be his last from the floor. He will formally resign on Jan. 2, The Hill said.

Earlier in the month, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton named Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to replace Franken, according to Politico.

"I have to admit that it feels like we are losing the war for truth," Franken said in his speech, according to transcript posted by Minnesota's WCCO-TV. "Maybe it’s already lost. And if that’s the case — if that's what happens — then we have lost the ability to have the kinds of arguments that help build consensus, or at least help the American people make informed choices about the issues that affect their lives."

Franken went on to accuse the Trump and the Republicans of supporting an agenda that does not include most of the American people.

"The values being advanced by the president and his allies in Congress simply don't represent my belief that our economy, our democracy, and our country work best when they work for everyone," Franken said, per WCCO-TV. "Indeed, the values propelling the Republican agenda today are about consolidating political and economic power in the hands of corporations and the very wealthy."

The Hill reported that almost 30 Democratic senators hung around for Franken's speech at their desk on the Senate floor. Minnesota's senior Sen. Amy Klobuchar praised Franken after his speech, the newspaper noted.

"I think that last call of action that he left us with ... the truth in what we do and truth in politics is something that no one should forget in this chamber," Klobuchar said, per The Hill. "It is one way that Al's work will live on."

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