Allegations a plot to derail bid, Moore says
Adefiant Roy Moore on Saturday insisted the allegations of sexual misconduct decades ago were false and voters in Alabama would “see through this charade.”
The Republican Senate candidate showed no signs of backing down despite the demand of a growing number of Washington Republicans for him to step aside.
Moore made his first public appearance on Saturday since The Washington Post on Thursday published interviews with four women who said Moore had tried to have sexual or romantic relationships with them decades ago — when they were teenagers and Moore was in his 30s and an established attorney.
Denial
A wave of national Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, called for Moore to drop out of the race if the allegations are true. Trump, who is in Asia and said he was too busy to keep up with the news about Moore, referred to a prior statement given to reporters that said Trump believes Moore will “do the right thing ...” if the allegations are true.
Speaking at the Mid-Alabama Republican Club in Vestavia Hills, Moore denied claims in the story that he had provided beer and wine to women too young to buy it themselves, or that he’d had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl.
Moore also said it was “strange” that women would wait 40 years to make such accusations shortly before a general election. Moore is running against Democrat Doug Jones. “That’s not a coincidence. It’s an intentional act to stop the campaign,” Moore said.