[Tapper:] We're back with our politics lead. And the third resignation announcement from a member of Congress in just three days, following accusations of sexual misconduct again. Minutes ago, Republican Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona said he's moving up his resignation date to today. This follows his abrupt announcement last night that he would leave Congress at the end of January after learning about an ethics investigation into allegations that he had sexually harassed two former female staffers. Some background here, Franks tried to explain that he and his wife have struggled with fertility problems. They used a surrogate to give birth to their first two children, twins. They wanted more children. And, well, here's how Congressman Franks explained it. Quote: Due to my familiarity and experience with the process of surrogacy, I clearly became insensitive as to how much the discussion, as to how the discussion of such an intensely personal topic might affect others, unquote. My panel's here with me. So, it's not entirely clear how this was framed to staffers, but I think it's fair to say from the statement of the Office of Speaker Paul Ryan, he wasn't buying the explanation necessarily. And even if he believed the explanation, he thought it was highly inappropriate for a member of Congress to harangue two female staffers into bearing his children to the point that they felt uncomfortable and intimidated.
[Carpenter:] The whole thing is gross, right? Like this is gross. We have to remember that the version
[Tapper:] Not surrogacy, we should say, not surrogacy, but trying to force a staffer. Right.
[Carpenter:] So, the version of events that Trent Franks released last night, the statement, was probably the best version possible. This was coming out in his words from his office. It's going to be worse. He left immediately now. Speaker Ryan agreed. So, we have to believe this is what like I don't get. I knew the problem of sexual harassment was bad in Washington on the Hill. I honestly didn't think it was this bad.
[Tapper:] Oh, this is just the tip of the iceberg, though.
[Carpenter:] I worked in great offices that had great culture. This is unimaginable to me. I mean, truly. This is gross. Creepy. Weird.
[Tapper:] OK. A week ago I was saying how come the me-too movement as spared Congress? How come Congress has this shell and they have not been nobody's resigned, et cetera. Now, here we are, three members of Congress, Conyers, Franken and Franks, it's obviously hit Congress. But don't you think there is probably a lot more to come?
[Berg:] Oh, absolutely. No doubt about it, Jake, that this is, as you said, the tip of the iceberg. That said, I agree with Amanda. I would have expected maybe more boiler plate sexual harassment or assault. I know that sounds a little more cynical, but, I mean, as women, we've all experienced
[Carpetnter:] The groping, yes.
[Berg:] something, sure, or heard about something. But this level that we are seeing from some people like the Harvey Weinsteins of the world or now, Trent Franks, it's just outrageous. And I think, you know, it makes sense in this case that the speaker did what he did and told him to resign immediately. I think we are seeing the start of a zero tolerance era.
[Tapper:] Robby, let me ask you a different question. I want to bring it back to Roy Moore for a second, because that's obviously the pressing Senate race going on. A quote from September from Moore is getting some renewed attention today. He was asked by an African- American member of the audience when was the last time that he thought America was great? And Moore responded, quote, I think it was great at the time families were united, even though we had slavery, they cared for one another. Our families were strong. Our country had a direction. So, sometimes lost in all of this stuff about his alleged actions with young teenage girls is the fact that he says things like this.
[Mook:] That are racist, yes. It's depressing. I just the idea that you can say things like this today and not only not pay a political cost but it's almost celebrated by Steve Bannon and other people. You know, I think about John McCain in 2008 on the campaign trail when someone called Obama a Muslim. I mean, you know, you could argue that's less offensive than some of these other things that are going on and McCain stopped, corrected them and said that was wrong. George W. Bush after 911 consistently said that America was not at war with the Muslim religion, we were at war with violent extremists. I just I don't it's so irresponsible for people in power to incite other people to violence and to hatred like this. And I think I'm like a lot of people, I feel so helpless. It feels like anything we say here on this set makes no difference. We say the right thing and people just continue to do the wrong thing, and I, you know, I'm optimistic we're going to get through this. There are a lot of factors putting this into play. But it's got to stop at some point. It's not OK. It's not.
[Tapper:] I'll buy you a drink after the show. Everyone, stick around. We have a lot more to talk about. New details about just how many documents have been collected in the investigation of Russia's election meddling, election interference. It's a staggering number. We'll tell you about it, next.