Al Franken To Officially Leave US Senate On Jan. 2

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

Minnesota Senator Al Franken (D-MN) attends full committee hearing on the nomination of Alex Michael Azar II to be Health and Human Services Secretary on Capital Hill on November 29, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

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.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton introduces Lt. Governor Tina Smith as the replacement to Senator Al Franken on December 13, 2017 at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. (credit: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

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

Minnesota