Pro-Moore group fundraises off Trump’s comments

WASHINGTON — A political action committee supporting Senate candidate Roy Moore is fundraising off President Donald Trump’s near-endorsement of the Alabama Republican, who is facing new allegations of decades-old sexual misconduct in the closing weeks of the campaign.

An email with the subject line “Giving thanks for YOU and OUR PRESIDENT!” applauds Trump, who on Tuesday discounted the sexual assault allegations against Moore and said voters must not support his “liberal” rival.

“We are thankful that his last words before leaving the White House to celebrate Thanksgiving were the strong words of support for Roy Moore,” said the email from the Solution Fund PAC.

After staying silent for more than a week, Trump all but endorsed Moore as he departed Washington on Tuesday, telling reporters, “We don’t need a liberal person in there.”

Two women have accused Moore, 70, of sexually assaulting or molesting them decades ago, when he was in his 30s and they were 14 and 16. At least five others have said he pursued romantic relationships when they were teenagers and he was a prosecutor. He has denied the allegations.

Moore’s campaign announced Wednesday that his communications director, John Rogers, had resigned. The campaign characterized the departure as part of the normal turnover that occurs in campaigns and denied that Rogers’ decision had anything to do with the allegations against Moore.

Trump, who won election despite facing more than a dozen accusations of sexual misconduct himself, dismissed questions from reporters about backing a Republican accused of sexual assault over a Democrat.