Former Florida Gov. and failed GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush became the latest prominent establishment Republican to call on Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore to drop out of the race over reports that he had a sexual encounter with an underage girl nearly four decades ago.
Interviewed Monday afternoon on CNBC, Mr. Bush said his position was less a calculation of political advantage and more one of “right and wrong.”
“I think we have to acknowledge dating teenagers when you are a 32-year-old assistant district attorney is just wrong,” Mr. Bush said.
The 70-year-old Mr. Moore has denied the charges and said he may sue The Washington Post, which first reported the account of the allegations.
Top Washington Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have also called on Mr. Moore to step down ahead of a special election Dec. 12 to pick a successor for the Senate seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Mr. McConnell said he was searching for a write-in candidate to try to keep the seat in Republican hands
Mr. Bush, who lost out to President Trump in a bitter primary fight, said Republicans have to be consistent in demanding high standards of their candidates the way they have of Democrats.
“When it happens to someone on your team, I think you have an obligation to speak out as well,” he said.
• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.
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