Republican Senate nominee faces charges he pursued relationships with teenagers; engaged in inappropriate conduct
BIRMINGHAM — As the questions rained down, Roy Moore stepped out.
Moore and his wife left the event without answering questions. His surrogates — mostly anti-abortion and anti-LGBT activists from out-of-state — engaged in a tense back-and-forth with reporters after the event.
« When the person who had the mike looked at you and said what the judge would say, you refused to stop your abuse, » former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes told reporters after Moore left. « Asked and answered, again and again. »
Moore has denied the allegations, though he told conservative radio talk show host Sean Hannity last week he could not remember if he dated teenagers, though he said it was not his « customary behavior. »
The event in Birmingham was billed as a pro-family event, organized by Janet Porter, an Ohio-based anti-abortion activist.
« This is not a campaign event, » said Porter, standing in front of two large « Judge Roy Moore for Senate » signs and wearing a campaign sticker.
In remarks before he departed, Moore again issued a broad denial of the allegations he called « scurrilous » and « false. »
The women have stood by their stories. Eight women accuse Moore of inappropriate conduct, ranging from unwanted advances to sexual misconduct or assault. Most of the allegations center around Moore’s time as assistant district attorney in Gadsden from 1977 to 1982.
One, Leigh Corfman, said Moore brought her to her house when she was 14 and he was 32; undressed her and guided her hand over his crotch. The legal age of consent in Alabama, then and now, is 16.
Another, Beverly Nelson, said she was 16 in 1977 when Moore offered her a ride home from the diner where she worked. Nelson said Moore groped her, squeezed her neck and pulled her toward his crotch, then tried to silence her. Others have described a range of behavior, including Moore pursuing relationships with them as teenagers and, in one case, forcefully kissing them. On Tuesday, al.com reported another woman, Tina Johnson, accused Moore of grabbing her buttocks when completing legal work for her in his office in 1991.
Moore has called the claims « completely false » and threatened to sue media organizations reporting on them. The former Alabama chief justice has also said he does not know Corfman or Nelson.
Attorneys for Nelson and Gloria Deason, who said Moore pursued a relationship with her in the late 70s, said both women would be willing to testify under oath.
Speakers at the event tended to avoid comment on the specific allegations, but claimed Moore was a victim of Democrats; Republicans in Washington; LGBT activists and the media, and suggested the allegations were part of a broader attack on the country.
« I want every American and every American to understand, they’re trying to tell you this is about Roy Moore, » Keyes said. « I want to tell you, it is about stripping you of the presumption of innocence. »
There were also references to Moore’s anti-LGBT and anti-abortion stances. Porter at one point graphically described an abortion procedure at the podium. Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter, who blamed 2012’s Hurricane Sandy on same-sex marriage, said « Democratic and Republican homosexualists » were attempting to sabotage the race.
« We need Judge Moore to stand against the transgender/LGBT mafia, » Leiter said, adding that Moore knows what the « ultimate authority is, and it’s not the U. S. Supreme Court. It’s God. »
The Alabama Republican Party broke a weeklong silence Thursday with a statement from Chairwoman Terry Lathan, which said the steering committee of the party met Wednesday and « supports Judge Roy Moore as our nominee and trusts the voters as they make the ultimate decision in this crucial race. »
« Judge Moore has vehemently denied the allegations made against him, » Lathan’s statement said. « He deserves to be presumed innocent of the accusations unless proven otherwise. He will continue to take his case straight to the people of Alabama. »
Moore faces Democratic Senate nominee Doug Jones in the Dec. 12 general election.
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
Embed
Share
