Will Roy Moore lose his spot as the GOP nominee for U.S. Senator for Alabama? It could happen. In the wake of a new WaPo report, several Republican lawmakers said he should step down because of allegations that he preyed on teenage girls. However because of Alabama law, he would remain on the ballot even if the GOP withdrew the nomination.
Alabama elex spox John Bennett just told me that if the GOP withdraws their nomination of Moore, and notifies their office, he will remain on ballot but even if he gets most votes, won’t be certified as winner b/c party has withdrawn nomination.
— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylor) November 9, 2017
Bennett is the Director of Communications and deputy Chief of State for the Alabama Secretary of State. This office administers elections.
Here’s how Alabama law puts it:
Any amendment [to a certification of a candidate] filed after the 76th day before a primary or a general election shall be accepted by the judge of probate or the Secretary of State but shall not be cause for reprinting of the ballots. The name of a candidate who is the subject of the amendment and who is disqualified by a political party or who has withdrawn as a candidate shall remain on the ballot, not be replaced by the name of another candidate, and the appropriate canvassing board shall not certify any votes for the candidate.
The special election to replace former Sen. Jeff Sessions is scheduled for Dec. 12, just over a month away.
Though Moore has denied the allegations, Republicans are applying pressure on him to step down. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he should leave the race if the claims are true.
Reax to WaPo story on Roy Moore:
Majority Leader McConnell: “If these allegations are true, he must step aside.”
Sen. Shelby: “If that’s true, he doesn’t belong in the Senate.”
Sen. Gardner (chair of NRSC): “deeply troubling,” said NRSC
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 9, 2017
Sen. John McCain said the allegations are bad enough.
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
These are all Republicans, and Moore’s colleagues if he wins.
Three women told WaPo that Roy Moore pursued them when they were teens, ages ranging from 16-18. They described behavior that included kissing. A fourth woman, 53-year-old Leigh Corfman, said he approached her while he wore only underwear, took off her pants and shirt, groped her through her underwear, and guided her hand to his underwear. She was allegedly 14 at the time. Moore was 32. Alabama’s age of consent was and is 16.
Moore denied allegations, telling WaPo this was a smear job.
“These allegations are completely false and are a desperate political attack by the National Democrat Party and the Washington Post on this campaign,” he said.
Corfman told the outlet she worked for Republican candidates in the last three presidential elections. This included Donald Trump in 2016.
[Screengrab via Fox News]
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