Sen. Tammy Baldwin said Monday she believes accusers of former Alabama Chief Justice and Senate candidate Roy Moore who say he pursued inappropriate relationships with them while they were minors.
“It seems to be a very carefully researched story, and I sometimes wonder how much does it take for people to believe women in these instances?” Ms. Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat, said on CNN.
Ms. Baldwin was reacting to a report in The Washington Post that outlined three women who say Mr. Moore pursued sexual relationships with them while they were minors. They say this happened when he was working as assistant prosecutor in Alabama.
Mr. Moore has denied these claims and said he plans to sue the newspaper for the story.
Ms. Baldwin said that while some of her Republican colleagues agree the story is convincing, some have been more reluctant to accuse Mr. Moore of wrongdoing.
“Some of my Republican colleagues have said they’ve read carefully the story and said they find it persuasive and they don’t find the denials as persuasive, and they’ve been clear about that,” she said. “But many of my Republican colleagues, as you’ve noted, have said ’if true,’ as though there were about to be a trial beyond what we’re seeing in the newspaper.”
Mr. Moore is running to fill the Senate seat in Alabama vacated by Jeff Sessions earlier this year when Mr. Sessions became the attorney general. Mr. Moore beat incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed to fill the seat, in the Republican primary.
Ms. Baldwin said she hopes the people of Alabama seriously consider their choices in the general election on Dec. 12.
Mr. Moore will face off against Democrat Doug Jones. Polling in the race shows a closer contest than may be expected in deep red Alabama.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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