The Alabama Republican Party said it will continue to support Roy Moore in next month’s special election after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced last week, and said the conservative judge “deserves to be presumed innocent of the accusations unless proven otherwise.”
Party Chairman Terry Lathan said in a statement Thursday the Alabama Republican Party Steering Committee met on Wednesday to discuss the Senate race and the circumstances surrounding Moore.
Four women accused the conservative judge of pursuing sexual and romantic relations with them when they were between the ages of 14 and 18, and he was in his 30s. A fifth woman said Monday that Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16.
The state party decided it will continue to support Moore as the Republican nominee and said it “trusts the voters as they make the ultimate decision in this crucial race.”
“Judge Moore has vehemently denied the allegations made against him. He deserves to be presumed innocent of the accusations unless proven otherwise,” Lathan said. “He will continue to take his case straight to the people of Alabama.”
Lathan said the Alabama Republican Party trusts voters will have the state and country’s “best interest at heart,” and said, “Alabamians will be the ultimate jury in this election — not the media or those from afar.”
After the allegations against Moore were revealed, many top Republican lawmakers called for the conservative judge to exit the Senate race. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he believes Attorney General Jeff Sessions could mount a successful write-in campaign.
Moore is facing Democrat Doug Jones in the Senate race for Sessions’ old seat.
The Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have withdrawn their support for Moore.
