Top Utah Republicans rushed to Mitt Romney’s defense Wednesday after nationalist firebrand Steve Bannon accused the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee of using his Mormon faith to avoid military service in Vietnam.

Gov. Gary Herbert, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Sen. Mike Lee issued statements praising Romney’s integrity and patriotism and condemned Bannon for comments they described as wrong and bigoted against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Romney criticized President Trump for endorsing Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct, and Bannon’s attack came Tuesday evening during a campaign rally for the retired judge.

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