principle here or is it better to keep a hard-fighting liberal lawmaker in office? The answer, IMO, is that there is no choice; Franken must go. At some point people need to stand up and be counted. I don't see, given that the Democratic party is championing equal rights and respect for everyone, that they can tolerate keeping someone like Conyers or Franken in their midst who violates those principles.

Now perhaps as you say, they could examine the ethics violations, perhaps even censure Franken but have him serve out his term. But as what? A less than effective lame duck who the GOP will hang around the Democrats' neck in 2018 and 2020? No, better to make a clean break now when the governor can appoint another reliable Democrat to the office before the next election cycle. It's the right thing to do.