system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Senator Al Franken apologized the right way, is remorseful, and has done a lot of good re: women's issues and social equality. His actions are not as bad as those President Trump or Roy Moore are accused of, and he should not resign.

Senator Al Franken was accused of kissing a woman without her consent and later groping her in her sleep. Photo evidence that some say is actually exonerating was provided of the groping. Regardless, Franken admitted fault, apologized in apparent sincerity, and invited an ethics investigation into his conduct.

Some are calling for Senator Franken's resignation. I posit that he does a lot of good for women in the Senate. He has appointed feminists to his staff (one now lead's Emily's List) and led the charge to prevent defense contractors from forcing their employees into binding arbitration re: sexual assaults while on the job overseas. I believe he remorseful and has channeled that toward achieving progressive work within our government.

Franken's apology and belief in his accuser is counter to the responses of President Trump and Alabama senatorial candidate Roy Moore, who are accused of worse behavior and have refused to acknowledge that they have done anything wrong. Painting Franken with the same brush as them is wrong and will cause a backlash against the new trend of holding male sexual abuses accountable for their actions.

Al Franken should remain in the Senate unless other more serious assaults are revealed by other accusers or an investigation or a pattern of consistent abuse is shown.
gpt
There have been plenty of very sincere apologies from people, and those in the cultural progressive movement were happy to still scewer them, call for blackballing in their industries, being fired from their jobs, resign as CEO etc. 

Its just that Al Franken is now a beloved very liberal democrat in a position of power, and suddenly progressives are willing to see shades of gray because they dont want to lose a senate seat.

This has NOTHING to do with the sincerity of the apology. This has to be with cognitive bias. Liberals, conservatives, progressives, libertarians, EVERYONE who is a human is prone to it. 

Everyone in town is happy to go on a witch hunt until their friend or family member is the one accused. At that point it is usually a "time for contemplation" or some such.