Senate candidate Roy Moore allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl when he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney in Alabama, according to an explosive new report by the Washington Post.
Leigh Corfman and her mother, Nancy Wells, allege that in 1979, Moore took the 14-year-old Corfman to his home, partially undressed her, and initiated a sexual encounter with her. Corfman says that she and Moore did not have intercourse, and when she asked Moore to take her home, he did.
The Post report also includes interviews with three other women who say Moore pursued relationships with them around the same time, when they were between the ages of 16 and 18. The age of consent is 16 in Alabama, and none of these other women allege that Moore forced them into sexual contact.
Moore fiercely denied the reports Thursday, saying the allegations were “completely false and are a desperate political attack by the National Democrat Party and the Washington Post on this campaign.”
Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, immediately expressed deep concern over the allegations, saying Moore must step aside if they prove true. Senators who have publicly endorsed Moore, including National Republican Senate Committee Chairman Corey Gardner and Mike Lee, agreed.
“The allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore are deeply troubling,” Gardner said in a statement. “If these allegations are found to be true, Roy Moore must drop out of the Alabama special Senate election.”
Sens. John McCain and Ben Sasse have given particularly strong denunciations of Moore’s alleged actions.
“The Post’s story is appalling and heartbreaking,” Sasse said in a statement. “If there’s an ounce of truth to any of this, Roy Moore has no place in public life and ought to drop out immediately. Alabamians should start thinking about who they’ll write in but it’s obvious that conservatives deserve better than this.”
For his part, McCain didn’t bother with the “if true” qualifier:
The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying. He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of.
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) November 9, 2017
GOP Sen. David Perdue says he hasn’t read the story but just saw it:
“It’s devastating. I think if those allegations are true, he should step aside. I mean, I’m sorry but this is untenable — if they’re true. I have no facts, I just saw the story. But it’s very serious.”
— Emma Loop (@LoopEmma) November 9, 2017
Senator Mike Lee who endorsed Moore on the allegations in the WAPO: “if they’re true he should step aside.”
— Alan He (@alanhe) November 9, 2017
If there is any truth at all to these horrific allegations, Roy Moore should immediately step aside as a Senate candidate.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) November 9, 2017
Rob Portman on Roy Moore:
“I think if what we read is true, and people are on the record so I assume it is, then he should step aside.”
— Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott) November 9, 2017
The allegations spell potential disaster for Republicans in Alabama, as it is likely too late to field another candidate even if Moore were to step aside immediately. Sen. John Thune said Friday that “our folks are looking into what the laws allow for in terms of Alabama when it comes to replacing candidates on the ballot.”
But absentee ballots have already been mailed with Moore’s name on them, and state law says a replacement nominee must be filed at least 76 days before an election. Alabama’s special election takes place Dec. 12. Prior to Thursday, Moore was polling ahead of Democrat Doug Jones 51 percent to 40 percent.
We will update this post with more information when it becomes available.
