White House legislative affairs director Marc Short declined to give a yes or no answer when asked if President Trump still backs Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore amid numerous sexual allegations.
“Does the president have any reason to doubt these young women who are making the allegations?” George Stephanopoulos asked on ABC’s “This Week” early Sunday.
“As you noted, the president has not gone down to Alabama to campaign for Roy Moore since the primary concluded,” Short said, adding, “We have serious concerns about the allegations that have been made.”
However, Short wondered why the allegations are only coming out now despite Moore being a public servant for decades in Alabama.
“But we also believe that all of this information is out there for the people of Alabama. … He has run multiple times, the people of Alabama know best what to do and the right decision to make here,” Short said.
Stephanopoulos followed up by asking if Trump believes the allegations.
“[I]f he did not believe the women’s accusations were credible, he would be down campaigning for Roy Moore,” Short said. “He has concerns about the accusations, but he is also concerned that these accusations are 38 years old.”
Short continued: “Roy Moore has been in public service for decades and the accusations did not arise until a month before the election. So, we are concerned about several aspects of the story, we’re very concerned about the allegations — but at this point as I’ve said, we think it’s best for the people of Alabama to make the decision for them.”
Stephanopoulos again pushed Short to make a “yes or no judgment” if Trump believes the women.
“I think I’ve answered your question three times now,” Short shot back.
Stephanopoulos told Short he only said he has questions and concerns about the allegations.
“We do. We do have questions. We do have serious questions about the allegations, and the president has raised those,” Short said, again noting Trump has not campaigned for Moore since the primary
In September, Trump promised to campaign for Moore should he beat Luther Strange, the candidate whom Trump had originally endorsed in the Republican primary.
Then, Stephanopoulos asked if Trump will still back Moore.
“I don’t think you’ve seen him go down there and campaign for him. I don’t think you’ve seen him issue and endorsement. I think he thinks at this point it is best for the people of Alabama to make the decision for their state,” Short said.
“So he no longer backs Roy Moore?” Stephanopoulos pushed.
“I think he thinks its best for the people of Alabama to make that decision,” Short said.
According to a Fox News poll released Tuesday, Democratic Doug Jones has an 8-point lead over Moore.
