Moore threatens accusers as critics decry intimidation
Birmingham ( US), Nov. 17: Ever defiant, Republican Roy Moore’s campaign lashed out at the women accusing him of sexual misconduct, declaring “let the battle begin.”
Women’s advocates decried the talk as worn intimidation tactics in a desperate attempt to keep his imperiled Senate bid alive.
Mr Moore ignored mounting calls from Washington Republicans concerned that he may not only lose a seat they were sure to win but also may do significant damage to the party’s brand among women nationwide as they prepared for a difficult midterm election season.
Mr Moore’s team showed no such concerns on Thursday. “You ask me if I believe the girls. No, I don’t believe the girls. I believe Judge Moore,” Moore strategist Dean Young said. “Let the battle begin. ... Get ready to fight Mitch McConnell. We’re going to fight you to the death on this.”
President Donald Trump, through a spokeswoman, called the allegations of sexual misconduct against the former judge “very troubling.”
The Republican President stopped short of calling on Mr Moore to quit the race, however, breaking with most Republican leaders in Washington, including McConnell, the Senate majority leader.
“He thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, declining to clarify whether Mr Trump continued to back Mr Moore.
Mr Trump did take time to publicly ridicule Democratic Senator Al Franken.