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Mitch McConnell Says Roy Moore Should Exit Senate Race ‘if These Allegations Are True’ Sex Allegations Against Roy Moore Send Republicans Reeling
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said on Thursday that if Roy S. Moore made sexual overtures to four women when they were teenagers, as they allege, the Republican Party nominee for a Senate seat in Alabama should step aside ahead of a Dec. 12 special election. ATLANTA — Republicans in Washington seemed near panic Thursday in the light of a news report in which four women said Roy S. Moore, the Republican nominee for a United States Senate seat in Alabama and an evangelical Christian, had made sexual or romantic overtures to them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican majority leader, said Mr. Moore should step aside ahead of the Dec. 12 special election if the allegations were true.
“If these allegations are true, he must step aside,” Mr. McConnell said in a statement after The Washington Post posted a story online in which the women said in on-the-record interviews that Mr. Moore had pursued them in the 1970s and 1980s when he was an attorney in his early 30s. But in Alabama, the fallout was uncertain for a candidate who is considered a hero in some circles for his conservative cultural stances. Mr. Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, was twice removed from that office for his positions on gay marriage and a Ten Commandments display. On Thursday, he strenuously denied the allegations the women made about him in on-the-record interviews included in the report, published by The Washington Post.
And it was clear that many in his conservative base were in no mood to desert him in a race for a Senate seat Republicans consider crucial to maintaining their majority in the upper chamber.
John Skipper, 66, a former chair of the Mobile County Republican Party, declared the allegations “total contrived media garbage.” Mr. Skipper said that he would still support the candidate and that he figured most of the Alabama Republicans he knew would probably do the same.
“Most of them will not be shocked,” he said, “and will rather be expecting these shenanigans being pulled by the Democrats as standard operating procedure.”
Whether Mr. Skipper’s prediction proves true remains to be seen. But the report unquestionably introduced new waves of uncertainty and turmoil into a race for the Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, the attorney general.
The women cited in The Washington Post article said that Mr. Moore had pursued them in the 1970s and 1980s when he was a lawyer in his early 30s.
Mr. Moore was defiant, denying the charges and attacking the news media.Mr. Moore was defiant, denying the charges and attacking the news media.
“These allegations are completely false and are a desperate political attack by the National Democrat Party and The Washington Post on this campaign,” he said in a statement. “These allegations are completely false and are a desperate political attack by the National Democrat Party and The Washington Post on this campaign,” he said in a statement. He later attributed the news to “The Obama-Clinton Machine’s liberal media lap dogs.”
Brett Doster, an adviser to Mr. Moore, said the candidate would “absolutely not” drop out of the race, calling the charges “a fabricated November surprise.” Mr. Doster said the campaign had not yet heard from Mr. McConnell or any Senate leaders. Brett Doster, an adviser to Mr. Moore, said the candidate would “absolutely not” drop out of the race, calling the charges “a fabricated November surprise.”
And some in Alabama shrugged. “There’s nothing to see here,” said Alabama State Auditor Jim Ziegler, a longtime supporter of Mr. Moore. “Single man, early 30s, never been married, dating teenage girls. Never been married and he liked younger girls. According to the Washington Post account he never had sexual intercourse with any of them.” Others in Alabama shrugged at the allegations. “There’s nothing to see here,” said Jim Zeigler, the state auditor and a longtime supporter of Mr. Moore. “Single man, early 30s, never been married, dating teenage girls. Never been married and he liked younger girls. According to The Washington Post account he never had sexual intercourse with any of them.”
But Mr. Moore’s candidacy was in grave danger. But Mr. Moore’s candidacy appears to be in grave danger. Senate Republicans moved en masse to distance themselves from their nominee almost as soon as the news article was posted.
A statement from Vice President Pence said: “The Vice President found the allegations in the story disturbing and believes, if true, this would disqualify anyone from serving in office.” A statement from Vice President Mike Pence said: “The Vice President found the allegations in the story disturbing and believes, if true, this would disqualify anyone from serving in office.”
Senate Republicans moved en masse to distance themselves from their nominee almost as soon as the news story was posted. That statement was repeated by numerous Republican senators.
“If these allegations are true, his candidacy is not sustainable,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican. Mr. Cornyn said he wanted to know more before withdrawing his endorsement of Mr. Moore.“If these allegations are true, his candidacy is not sustainable,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican. Mr. Cornyn said he wanted to know more before withdrawing his endorsement of Mr. Moore.
Those statements were repeated by numerous Republican senators. The party, already reeling from the election losses they suffered on Tuesday, is defending a two-seat majority in the Senate and faces a handful of difficult elections next year.
Republicans, already reeling from the election losses they suffered on Tuesday, have only a two-seat majority in the Senate and are facing a handful of difficult elections next year. Mr. Moore’s candidacy had already worried party leaders who had embraced Mr. Moore despite his long record of incendiary comments about gays, Muslims and African-Americans.
Mr. Moore’s candidacy had already worried party leaders who had embraced the controversial former state Supreme Court justice despite his long record of incendiary comments about gays, Muslims and African-Americans, to protect the Senate seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Alabama election law indicates, with little ambiguity, that the deadline has passed for candidates to be replaced on the ballot. The state election code says a candidate who wishes to withdraw from a race must do so 76 days before Election Day. The Alabama vote is in little more than a month.
But Alabama election law appears to indicate, with little ambiguity, that the deadline has passed for candidates to be replaced on the ballot. The state election code says a candidate who wishes to withdraw from a race must do so 76 days before Election Day. The Alabama vote is in little more than a month. “It’s too late to substitute a candidate,” said John Merrill, the Alabama secretary of state, a Republican. “Judge Moore will be the candidate on the ballot with this election cycle remaining on the schedule it’s currently on.”
“First of all, it’s too late to substitute a candidate,” said John Merrill, the Alabama secretary of state, a Republican. “Judge Moore will be the candidate on the ballot with this election cycle remaining on the schedule it’s currently on.” Republican lawyers and strategists in Washington were engaged in a furious search on Thursday for creative ways around that restriction, seeking a loophole that would allow the party’s leadership in the state to anoint a new candidate. The prospect of a write-in candidacy, for a third candidate, was also under consideration, according to party aides.
Republican lawyers and strategists in Washington were engaged in a furious search on Thursday for creative ways around that restriction, seeking a loophole that would allow the state Republican Party’s leadership to anoint a new candidate. The prospect of a write-in candidacy, for a third candidate, was also under consideration, according to party aides. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, who ran her own successful write-in campaign in 2010, said: “If in fact what I just read is true, he needs to get out of this race immediately. I think it’s pretty clear cut.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska who ran her own successful write-in campaign in 2010, said, “If in fact what I just read is true, he needs to get out of this race immediately. I think it’s pretty clear cut. If this is true, he should not be in this race at all.” She called for Senator Luther Strange, who was appointed to fill Mr. Sessions’s seat but lost to Mr. Moore in a bitterly contested Republican runoff in September, to run as a write-in.
She called for Senator Luther Strange, who was appointed to fill Mr. Sessions’ seat but lost to Mr. Moore in a bitterly contested Republican runoff in September, to run as a write-in.
One of the women, Leigh Corfman, told The Washington Post that she was 14 when Mr. Moore, 32 at the time, drove her to his home in Gadsden, Ala. He took off her shirt and touched her bra and underwear while also guiding her hand over his pants, Ms. Corfman told The Post.One of the women, Leigh Corfman, told The Washington Post that she was 14 when Mr. Moore, 32 at the time, drove her to his home in Gadsden, Ala. He took off her shirt and touched her bra and underwear while also guiding her hand over his pants, Ms. Corfman told The Post.
“I wanted it over with — I wanted out,” she told the newspaper. “Please just get this over with. Whatever this is, just get it over.” “I wanted it over with — I wanted out,” she told the newspaper.
Republican leaders appeared to be in a politically untenable situation, saddled with an embattled nominee unwilling to step aside in one of the country’s most conservative states. The charges immediately reignited hostilities between Mr. McConnell’s political allies, who poured millions into the campaign to stop Mr. Moore, and President Trump’s former chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, who rallied support for the former justice. CNN reported that it had spoken with Ms. Corfman’s stepfather, who said the family “stands by” what was reported in The Post.
Republican leaders are in a politically perilous situation, saddled with an embattled nominee unwilling to step aside in one of the country’s most conservative states. The charges reignited hostilities between Mr. McConnell’s political allies, who poured millions of dollars into the campaign to stop Mr. Moore, and President Trump’s former chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, who rallied support for the former justice.
“This is what happens when you let reckless, incompetent idiots like Steve Bannon go out and recruit candidates who have absolutely no business running for the U.S. Senate,” said Josh Holmes, a former McConnell aide.“This is what happens when you let reckless, incompetent idiots like Steve Bannon go out and recruit candidates who have absolutely no business running for the U.S. Senate,” said Josh Holmes, a former McConnell aide.
Mr. Bannon did not immediately reply to text messages or phone calls, but Breitbart posted a story with Mr. Moore’s statement shortly before the Post published its story. Mr. Bannon did not immediately reply to text messages or phone calls, but Breitbart posted an article with Mr. Moore’s statement shortly before The Post published its report.
Steven Law, the head of a McConnell-aligned “super PAC” which led an onslaught against Mr. Moore in the Republican runoff, did not wait for a guilty verdict before he excoriated Breitbart for “defending ‘consensual’ sex between a 32-year-old and a 16-year-old.” Steven Law, the head of a McConnell-aligned “super PAC” that led an onslaught against Mr. Moore in the Republican runoff, did not wait for a guilty verdict before he excoriated Breitbart for “defending ‘consensual’ sex between a 32-year-old and a 16-year-old.”
Private polling taken by both parties has shown that while Mr. Moore retains a passionate following among conservatives, he is a deeply divisive figure among more moderate Republicans. Private polling by both parties has shown that while Mr. Moore retains a passionate following among conservatives, he is a deeply divisive figure among more moderate Republicans, and some party officials now worry that the charges will convince moderates to stay home or vote for the Democratic candidate, Doug Jones, a former United States attorney.
In Alabama, Republicans were not immediately convinced that the story would end the candidacy of Mr. Moore, and few believed that he would drop out. He has been twice removed from the State Supreme Court but continued to win statewide races. The Jones campaign said in a statement that “Roy Moore needs to answer these serious charges.”
But party officials worried that the charges would convince moderate Republicans to stay home on Election Day or cast their ballot for the Democratic candidate, Doug Jones. Cleveland Poole, the chairman of the Republican Party in rural Butler County, said those most likely to defect were not ardent Moore supporters but voters who already have doubts. “They are going to be put off by it and might well stay home,” he said.
“With this kind of revelation, it’s not the people who are the ardent Moore supporters, but the Moore folks who are questionably in his camp, who are voting for him because it’s the thing to do. They are going to be put off by it and might well stay home,” said Cleveland Poole, the chairman of the Republican Party in rural Butler County. In a statement, Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, called the allegations “deeply disturbing,” and said she would withhold judgment until “we know the facts.” Senator Richard Shelby, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, told reporters in Washington that if the charges were accurate “he wouldn’t belong in the Senate.”
Mr. Moore, who rose to national prominence over his refusal to remove a tablet of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Supreme Court, enjoys a committed following from his fellow Evangelical Christians. But many Republicans in Alabama, particularly in the state’s most affluent and urban areas, have little regard for him. Mr. Doster, the adviser to Mr. Moore, said the candidate’s campaign chairman, Bill Armistead, had talked to members of Alabama’s congressional delegation after the report broke. “Everybody has been supportive,” Mr. Doster said.
Mr. Doster, the adviser to Mr. Moore, said the candidate’s campaign chairman, William Armistead, had talked to members of Alabama’s congressional delegation on Thursday after the story broke. “Everybody has been supportive,” Mr. Doster insisted. But a Republican familiar with the conversation said the House members on the call had told Mr. Armistead it was imperative that they aggressively respond to the article or risk losing support from the party’s elected officials.
But Senator Richard Shelby, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, told reporters in Washington that if the charges are accurate “he wouldn’t belong in the Senate.” Randy Brinson, president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama, said he expected voters would mostly give Mr. Moore the benefit of the doubt.
There were signs that Mr. Moore’s base of support in Alabama might not be quick to crumble. Randy Brinson, president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama, said he expected voters mainly to give Mr. Moore the benefit of the doubt and trust his denials. Mr. Brinson, who ran unsuccessfully in the Republican Senate primary last summer, said he intended to continue backing Mr. Moore for the time being. “Until I see something different, I would support Roy Moore because of what he says he’s going to do and who he is as a person,” Mr. Brinson said.
Mr. Brinson said he considered sexual misconduct a grave offense, but he questioned why the allegations against Mr. Moore would be “coming out now, four weeks before an election.” Mr. Zeigler said the account given by Ms. Corfman was “the only part that is concerning.” As Mr. Zeigler described it: “He went a little too far and he stopped.”
“Until I see something different, I would support Roy Moore because of what he says he’s going to do and who he is as a person,” Mr. Brinson said, adding: “I didn’t know him when he was 30 years old.”
Mr. Ziegler acknowledged as “the only part that is concerning” the account given by one woman to the Post of Mr. Moore, then 32, undressing her as a 14-year-old, touching her over her underwear and guiding her hand to touch him over his underwear. As Mr. Ziegler described it: “He went a little too far and he stopped.”
Had the girl been 16 at the time and not 14, he added, “it would have been perfectly acceptable.”Had the girl been 16 at the time and not 14, he added, “it would have been perfectly acceptable.”
For Democrats, the prospect of a wounded Mr. Moore was a gift.For Democrats, the prospect of a wounded Mr. Moore was a gift.
“This is revolting and the Republican Party and everybody’s who endorsed Roy Moore needs to disavow his candidacy right now and ask him to withdraw,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who heads the Senate Democratic campaign arm. “This is revolting and the Republican Party and everybody’s who endorsed Roy Moore needs to disavow his candidacy right now and ask him to withdraw,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who leads the Senate Democratic campaign arm.
Some national Democrats have helped their candidate, Mr. Jones, raise money, but few officials believed that the former prosecutor could topple Mr. Moore in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1992. Now they have a chance to shrink the Republican majority to a single seat and potentially snatch the majority next year. Until recently, few Democratic officials believed that Mr. Jones could topple Mr. Moore in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1992, and Democrats have debated fiercely whether to commit resources to the race. Now many think they have a chance to shrink the Republican majority to a single seat and potentially snatch the majority next year.
Senate Democrats were already fielding strong candidates in Arizona and Nevada next year, but they had been scrambling to find a third Republican seat to challenge.
Even before the allegations about his personal conduct came to light, Mr. Moore’s judicial record on matters of sexual abuse was a point of contention in the race. During the Republican Senate primary, Mr. Strange ran television commercials attacking Mr. Moore for his vote in a case involving the sexual assault of a child.
Democrats alleged a deeper pattern of leniency in Mr. Moore’s judicial decisions involving sexual predation, pointing to several cases in which the former judge expressed skepticism of young women making allegations of sexual abuse.
In a 2015 case involving a man, David Pittman, who pleaded guilty to raping an underage girl, Mr. Moore wrote in a dissenting opinion that Mr. Pittman should have been allowed to introduce evidence showing his alleged victim’s parents “suspected her of sexual activity,” because it could be relevant to discerning her “alleged motive” in claiming she had been assaulted.
And in a 2014 case, involving a man convicted of abusing two underage girls, Mr. Moore wrote in a dissenting opinion that the man, Sherman Tate, should have had the chance in court to demonstrate that his accusers were romantically involved with each other. Mr. Moore wrote that connection “could be relevant to the victims’ alleged bias against Tate.”
“In cases of sexual misconduct, even against minors, Roy Moore blames the victims and sides with the attackers,” said Chris Hayden, a spokesman for Senate Majority PAC, the Democratic group that highlighted the cases. “Knowing that Roy Moore himself is an attacker it has never been clearer that he is not fit to serve in the U.S. Senate.”