2 SEX MISCONDUCT SCANDALS, 2 DIFFERENT RESPONSES
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — His party suddenly and bitingly divided, Alabama Republican Roy Moore emphatically rejected increasing pressure to abandon his Senate bid on Friday as fears grew among GOP leaders that a once- safe Senate seat was in jeopardy just a month before a special election.
Moore, an outspoken Christian conservative and former state Supreme Court judge, attacked a Washington Post report that he had sexual contact with a 14- year- old girl and pursued three other teenagers decades earlier as “completely false andmisleading.”
In an interview with conservative radio host Sean Hannity, he did not wholly rule out dating teenage girls when he was in his early 30s.
Asked if that would have been usual for him, Moore said, “Not generally, no.” He added: “I don’t remember ever dating any girl without the permission of her mother.” As for the encounter with 14- year- old Leigh Corfman, as described by Corfman in Thursday’s Post article, he said, “It never happened.”
The story has produced a wave of concern among anxious GOP officials in Washington but little more than a collective shrug from many Republicans in Alabama, which holds a special election on Dec. 12 to fill the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“Humphrey Bogart started dating Lauren Bacall when she was a teenager,” said state Auditor Jim Ziegler, referring to the then- 19- year- old actress.
“I’ll always vote for him,” said 28- year- old Erica Richard, of Altoona, Alabama, adding that she wouldn’t change her mind even if the allegations of sexual misconduct are proven true. “He’s a good man. I love him and his family, and they are all good people.”
Despite such support, experienced Republican operatives believe the Alabama Senate seat, held by the GOP for the last 20 years, is now at risk.
They fear the controversy could exacerbate the party’s broader Trump- era challenge in appealing to collegeeducated suburban voters — the same group that fueled a big Democratic victory in the Virginia governor’s race this week.
In the immediate aftermath of the Post report Thursday, a wave of national Republican leaders called for Moore to drop out of the race if the allegations are true. They included the White House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell andTexas Sen. TedCruz. It got worse Friday. The Senate GOP’s campaign arm formally ended its fundraising agreement with Moore. And the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney condemned his colleagues’ caveat.
“Innocent until proven guilty is for criminal convictions, not elections. I believe Leigh Corfman. Her account is too serious to ignore. Moore is unfit for office and should step aside.”