Senator Al Franken steps down over past harassment claims

The US Democratic Senator Al Franken has announced he will step down over allegations of sexual misconduct. More than 30 Democrat colleagues in the Senate had called for the resignation of Mr Franken, a former comedian who had been seen as a rising star in the party. Addressing the Senate, he said he been shocked and upset by the accusations from a number of women, some of which he has flatly denied.