From the New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is the day.

Today, Democrats have adopted a policy of zero tolerance from misconduct,

past or present by members of their own party. The growing political crisis in Virginia is testing

that approach. It's Friday, February 8th.

Hey there, I'm trying to reach a guest named Jonathan Martin in room 506.

I'll connect you right now. Thank you. My pleasure.

Hey guys. Hey, how are you? Good. I think we did find the right, Maryott.

Okay, let's jump in. Jonathan Martin covers national politics for the times. Jonathan,

where does this story really start? I think it has to droot in the Al Franken scandal.

A growing firestorm on Capitol Hill after Democratic Senator Al Franken is accused of

forcibly kissing and groping a woman more than a decade ago. If you recall, it was the fall of

2017. Another woman is coming forward to make groping accusations against Minnesota Senator

Democrat Al Franken. An array of stories came out. And another woman has come forward accusing

Senator Al Franken of groping her during a USO tour. She's the fifth woman to accuse the Minnesota

Senator of inappropriate behavior. And there were enough charges against him. Senator Kirsten

Gilliband, Claire McCaskill, Maisie Herono, Maggie Hassan, that finally, Patty Murray, Kamala Harris,

Tammy Baldwin, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, I want to get a chance. Senate Democrats urged him to

resign, led by Kirsten Gillibrand, now a candidate for president, and keep in mind,

this was the same time that in Alabama,

Alabama, Senate candidate Roy Moore remains defiant at this point, denying sexual assault allegations

and rejecting calls to drop out now. Roy Moore had been accused of sexual misconduct with a group

underage women. He was younger and the Democrats were trying to pick up that seat and they didn't

...