Pawlenty says he remains 'politically retired' amid speculation about Senate bid
BY MAX GREENWOOD - 12/12/17 09:27 AM EST
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty demurred on Tuesday when asked if he planned on running for Sen. Al Franken's (D-Minn.) Senate seat in 2018, repeating a past assertion that he is "politically retired."
"Chris, I'm politically retired and if that changes, you'll be among the first to know," Pawlenty, a Republican, told CNN's Chris Cuomo on "New Day."
Pawlenty also said that Franken made the right decision in announcing his plan to resign from the Senate in the face of sexual misconduct allegations. Multiple women have accused Franken of touching them inappropriately during photo opportunities and of forcible kissing.
Franken announced last week that he would step down from his seat in the coming weeks in a defensive and, at times, defiant speech on the Senate floor. His resignation came as a number of powerful men in politics, media, entertainment and beyond face allegations of sexual impropriety.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/364416-pawlenty-says-he-remains-politically-retired-amid-speculation-about-senate
