The White House said President Donald Trump has decided not to support Senate candidate Roy Moore due to “discomfort” with the allegations of sexual harassment made against him, adding that he also hasn’t called on Moore to step away from the race because it is Alabama’s voters who should decide.
According to Trump’s aides, the president is unsure whom to believe because considering the accusations refer to something that may have happened decades ago. Numerous Republicans have called on the Alabama candidate to quit the race, some even suggesting that he do that at the cost of giving up his seat to a Democrat.
“We are uncomfortable with the explanations that Roy Moore has given to date,” White House legislative director Marc Short said. Short added that Trump must believe the allegations since he is not campaigning for Moore, and restated the president’s opinion that voters in the state of Alabama will eventually decide whether they are true or not.
Whereas Trump supported Moore before the allegations, he has not done so after they emerged. Moore will face Democratic candidate Doug Jones in the special election on December 12. His name cannot be removed from the ballot, but some have suggested that a write-in candidate be added.
After repeated questions about whether Trump will stump for Moore, Short said: “I think you can infer by the fact that he has not gone down to support Roy Moore his discomfort in doing so.” Moore has denied the allegations, calling them “fake,” despite the increasing number of women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
Regarding the charges, Jeff Sessions said he has “no reason to doubt” the women, while Senator Susan Collins expressed hope that Alabama voters choose not to elect Moore for the Senate. Senator Tim Scott joined Moore’s adversaries, claiming it was in the country’s best interest is the former Supreme Court justice found “something else to do.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is certain that if Moore were to be elected, he would face a formal ethics complaint in the Senate and eventually be expelled.
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