Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on Roy Moore, the Republican nominee for Senate in Alabama, to drop out of the race in the wake of allegations that Moore sought a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32.
What did McConnell say?
According to Bloomberg, McConnell told reporters Monday in Kentucky that he thinks Moore should “step aside.”
Asked if he believes the allegations against Moore are true, McConnell replied, "I believe the women, yes."
Here is the video of @SenateMajLdr saying he believes the women accusing Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually assaulting a 14-year old and pursuing other teens. pic.twitter.com/169YSHlXym
— Nick Storm (@NStorm_Politics) November 13, 2017
McConnell said there is a possibility that there will be a write-in campaign as an alternative to Moore in Alabama’s special election on Dec. 12.
“That’s an option we’re looking at, whether or not there is someone who could mount a write-in campaign successfully,” McConnell said.
Asked about the possibility of launching a write-in campaign for incumbent Alabama Republican Sen. Luther Strange — whom Moore defeated in a primary runoff vote — the majority leader replied: "We’ll see."
What are the allegations against Moore?
Four women told the Washington Post that Moore asked them out on dates when they were teenagers and he was in his early 30s.
One of the accusers, Leigh Corfman, now 53, told the Washington Post that she was just 14 when Moore took her to his home, undressed her, and placed her hand on his underwear.
What did Moore say?
Moore and his campaign denied the allegations.
In a tweet Monday, Moore, 70, claimed that it is McConnell “who should step aside.”
“He has failed conservatives and must be replaced,” Moore said.