Why former Sen. Al Franken says he regrets his resignation

Norman Ornstein:

There are other senators who don't want to come forward now because you get in the crosshairs on an issue like this. And that's a part of what happened.

But, yes, there are plenty who got caught up in the moment. And, remember, one of the things that happens in cases like this is, media go on a death watch. And so there were 50 cameras and other reporters surrounding his daughter's house when he was there.

Every Democratic senator had microphones thrust in their faces: What are you going to do? What are you going to do?

And people caved, and now, I think, believe that they made a mistake. It was a perfect storm in a lot of ways. And I have to say some of it came from Senator Schumer, the leader, who basically told Franken, if you don't announce you're resigning by 5:00 p.m., the same day that all of this emerged, then I will get the caucus to vote calling for your resignation, and we may strip you of your committees, and you will become a pariah.

So the pressure was intense. And there wasn't any sense of, let's step back from this.

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