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| Alabama election: Roy Moore challenges loss to Doug Jones in lawsuit | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Republican Roy Moore has filed a lawsuit to try to stop Alabama from certifying Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of the state’s special Senate election on 12 December. | Republican Roy Moore has filed a lawsuit to try to stop Alabama from certifying Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of the state’s special Senate election on 12 December. |
| The court filing occurred about 14 hours before Thursday’s meeting of a state canvassing board to officially declare Jones the winner. Jones defeated Moore by about 20,000 votes. | The court filing occurred about 14 hours before Thursday’s meeting of a state canvassing board to officially declare Jones the winner. Jones defeated Moore by about 20,000 votes. |
| The 63-year-old grew up in the working-class city of Fairfield, just west of Birmingham, an area once dominated by the steel industry. His father was a steelworker and he spent time working in a mill when not in school | The 63-year-old grew up in the working-class city of Fairfield, just west of Birmingham, an area once dominated by the steel industry. His father was a steelworker and he spent time working in a mill when not in school |
| Jones got his start in government as an aide to the last Democrat to serve a full term in the Senate from Alabama, the late Howell Heflin. | Jones got his start in government as an aide to the last Democrat to serve a full term in the Senate from Alabama, the late Howell Heflin. |
| Years before running for the Senate himself, Jones became known for prosecuting two KKK members for the bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist church in 1963 which killed four black girls. | Years before running for the Senate himself, Jones became known for prosecuting two KKK members for the bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist church in 1963 which killed four black girls. |
| After his appointment as US attorney in Birmingham in 1997, Jones led a team of federal and state attorneys during trials that resulted in the convictions of Thomas Blanton Jr in 2001 and Bobby Frank Cherry in 2002. | After his appointment as US attorney in Birmingham in 1997, Jones led a team of federal and state attorneys during trials that resulted in the convictions of Thomas Blanton Jr in 2001 and Bobby Frank Cherry in 2002. |
| Moore’s attorney wrote in the complaint, filed late on Wednesday, that he believed there were irregularities during the election and said there should be a fraud investigation and eventually a new election. | Moore’s attorney wrote in the complaint, filed late on Wednesday, that he believed there were irregularities during the election and said there should be a fraud investigation and eventually a new election. |
| “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, as election integrity should matter to everyone,” Moore said. | “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, as election integrity should matter to everyone,” Moore said. |
| Alabama’s secretary of state, John Merrill, told Associated Press on Wednesday evening that he had no intention of delaying the canvassing board meeting. | Alabama’s secretary of state, John Merrill, told Associated Press on Wednesday evening that he had no intention of delaying the canvassing board meeting. |
| “It is not going to delay certification and Doug Jones will be certified [on Thursday] at 1 pm and he will be sworn in by Vice-President Pence on 3 January,” Merrill said. | “It is not going to delay certification and Doug Jones will be certified [on Thursday] at 1 pm and he will be sworn in by Vice-President Pence on 3 January,” Merrill said. |
| In the complaint, Moore’s attorneys noted the higher than expected turnout in the race, particularly in Jefferson County, and said Moore’s numbers were suspiciously low in about 20 Jefferson County precincts. | In the complaint, Moore’s attorneys noted the higher than expected turnout in the race, particularly in Jefferson County, and said Moore’s numbers were suspiciously low in about 20 Jefferson County precincts. |
| Merrill said he had so far not found evidence of voter fraud, but his office would investigate any complaint that Moore submits. | Merrill said he had so far not found evidence of voter fraud, but his office would investigate any complaint that Moore submits. |
| Moore has not conceded the contest to Jones and has sent several fundraising emails to supporters asking for donations to investigate claims of voter fraud. | Moore has not conceded the contest to Jones and has sent several fundraising emails to supporters asking for donations to investigate claims of voter fraud. |
| Jones and Moore were competing to fill the US Senate seat that previously belonged to the attorney general, Jeff Sessions. Moore’s campaign was wounded by accusations of sexual misconduct involving teenage girls decades ago. | Jones and Moore were competing to fill the US Senate seat that previously belonged to the attorney general, Jeff Sessions. Moore’s campaign was wounded by accusations of sexual misconduct involving teenage girls decades ago. |