If he’d had a discrete, agreeable affair with a someone in DC and not on his staff, he’d likely still be a Senator. His problem was trying to get the goods from someone who was not interested in him. Even if he was a Senator and she was a Playboy model, he was still a creepy jerk who got caught being one on camera. I agree that most Dems would just circle the wagons and wait it out until the media rode over the hill to chase the elephants away. His Party buddies didn’t think he was worth the effort.
His first crime was what actually got him elected in the first place, voter fraud. By the democRATic machine allowing convicted felons to vote and then counting the votes five times until he had enough to win.
He didn't win that election. He stole it from Norm Coleman through voter fraud.
An investigation after the election found that almost 400 illegal felons voted in the states two largest counties, more than the slim 312 margin of victory for Franken.
Franken deserved a "raw deal" as you call it. Just desserts as far as I am concerned.