Republican Senators Call On Roy Moore to Step Aside

Soon after reports about Roy Moore sexually harassing a woman, Senate Republicans began calling on him to withdraw from the 2018 Senate election.

Since Thursday, a number of lawmakers from Moore’s party have requested him to step aside, and that number continues to increase. Among those who are calling on the Alabama Senate candidate to step aside is Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“If these allegations are true, he must step aside,” McConnell said on Thursday.

However, Alabama state law does not allow for Moore’s name to be removed from the ballot at this point in the race. But if this happens and he wins, the election would be declared invalid.

Utah Senator Mike Lee, who had endorsed Moore, responded similarly to McConnell, saying that Moore has to withdraw from the race if the allegations against him are true. Texas Senator Ted Cruise noted that even though the allegations made against Moore were “serious and troubling”, he should be given a chance to respond. He also asked for Moore’s removal if the allegations were proven to be correct.

Other Senators, including Lisa Murkowski and Rob Portman, also called on Moore to step aside. Some Senators took to Twitter, calling the allegations “deeply disturbing.” They all maintained Moore should not be in the Senate if he had really done what he is accused of.

“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 tweeted.

Moore was accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a 14-year girl when he was 32. Three other women made similar allegations against him, claiming Moore had initiated sexual encounters when they were teens and he was in his thirties.

Moore issued a written statement in which he denies the allegations which he called “completely false and a desperate political attack” by Democrats and the Washington Post which published the story. Moore’s campaign also claimed the story was intended to undermine him and advance the Democratic candidate.