As Senate Republicans scrounged for ways to win an U.S. Senate seat in Alabama without their embattled nominee, Roy Moore, Democrats told red-state voters Sunday to avoid the chaos and just vote for their guy.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat, said Alabamans will choose between a “great candidate” in Doug Jones, a former prosecutor and Democrat, or a “flawed” one in Mr. Moore, who is reeling from accusations that he pursued romantic relationships with teenaged girls when he was in his 30s.
“This is their decision. They’re getting the facts now, and they need to make a decision based on the records of these two candidates,” Mr. Van Hollen told “Fox News Sunday.”
Mr. Moore has flatly denied the most alarming accusation, that he initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old in 1979, and said he never acted inappropriately.
He called the claims, detailed in a Washington Post report, “garbage” designed to derail his campaign.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the White House have said Mr. Moore should step aside if the allegations are proven true, although it’s unclear what kind of investigation can or will occur. Other Republicans say he should step aside now.
Republicans have suggested that GOP voters could write in interim Sen. Luther Strange, who occupies the seat and lost the primary to Mr. Moore, though they recognize that navigating state electoral laws and securing victory will be difficult.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat, said there is a process for expelling an elected senator after an ethics review.
“But there’s a step between, here … and that is there’s an alternative candidate in Doug Jones — former U.S. attorney, great prosecutor, someone who’s running on trust with the voters and, also, health care in Alabama and the real issues that are going to affect the people of that state,” Ms. Klobuchar said
Democrats are employing a double standard, some critics say, after fighting President Bill Clinton’s impeachment related to sexual acts with a White House intern and the associated fallout in the late 1990s.
Party bigwigs also have refused to say whether Sen. Robert Menendez, facing corruption charges in New Jersey, should step down before a Democratic governor is seated in January.
Mr. Van Hollen, Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez all declined on Sunday to say whether Mr. Menendez should resign if he’s found guilty. They said the jury hasn’t spoken, so they don’t want to weigh in on the hypothetical.
“People on the jury will look at the facts, just like people in Alabama will have to look at the facts and they’ll have to render a decision,” Mr. Van Hollen said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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