Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is navigating rocky shoals as he moves to protect the Republican Party from the taint of Roy Moore, under fire for multiple sexual misconduct allegations, risking a grassroots backlash in Alabama that could elevate the retired judge to the Senate.

Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, who as the Senate GOP campaign chief works in tandem with McConnell, issued a statement on Monday urging the full Senate to expel Moore from Congress if he defeats Democrat Doug Jones in a December special election. McConnell and a burgeoning list of Republicans, on Capitol Hill and nationally, were calling for Moore to exit the race as his accusers grew and new allegations surfaced.