Al Franken to Officially Leave US Senate Seat on Jan. 2

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Sen. Al Franken plans to officially leave the U.S. Senate on Jan. 2.

The announcement Wednesday from a Franken spokesman should put to rest
questions surrounding the timing of the Minnesota Democrat's departure and
concern that he might reverse his planned resignation.

Franken announced earlier this month that he would leave ``in the coming weeks'' amid several sexual misconduct allegations. His office later indicated it would come sometime in early January.

Gov. Mark Dayton's choice to replace Franken, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, is set to be
sworn in Jan. 3.

Smith will keep some of Franken's top staff when she takes office. She plans to
run for the seat in 2018.