WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on sexual misconduct allegations against Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore (all times local):
8:45 p.m.
Republican Roy Moore is touting President Donald Trump’s near-endorsement of him in a new fundraising email to supporters.
The Republican Senate candidate from Alabama sent out a fundraising appeal Wednesday night touting Trump’s criticisms of Democrat Doug Jones.
Trump referenced Jones on Tuesday when he told reporters, “We don’t need a liberal person in there.”
While Trump has not officially sided with Moore, he noted that Moore has denied the accusations of sexual misconduct against teens.
Trump said, “Roy Moore denies it, that’s all I can say.”
Moore tells supporters in his fundraising appeal, “I appreciate Donald Trump for defending my honor and my character.”
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6 p.m.
The Democrat in Alabama’s Senate race is spotlighting Republican Roy Moore’s accusers in a new ad.
The ad, run by Doug Jones’ campaign, shows the photographs of the women who have accused Moore of sexually assaulting or molesting them, or pursuing romantic relationships with them when they were teens while he was in his 30s.
The announcer in the ad says, “they were girls when Roy Moore immorally pursued them.” It ends with the line, “Will we make their abuser a U.S. senator?”
Moore has denied the accusations. He has said he never dated underage women and never engaged in sexual misconduct.
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5:45 p.m.
Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore’s campaign spokesman has resigned.
Campaign chairman Bill Armistead says John Rogers has resigned as communications director. Armistead says the campaign appreciated “his valuable contributions to our team.”
Hannah Ford, the deputy campaign manager, is taking over press duties. Rogers confirmed to the Associated Press that he has resigned.
Moore’s campaign has been hit with accusations that Moore, as a deputy district attorney in his 30s, sexually assaulted or molested two teens and sought romantic relationships with several other teens.
Moore has denied the allegations.
Moore’s campaign has taken an aggressive tone in the press in recent days. In a press conference Tuesday, campaign strategist Dean Young and others lashed out at the news media and called the accusations “lies.”
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12:25 p.m.
A group supporting Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore despite sexual misconduct allegations against him is fundraising off President Donald Trump’s near endorsement.
An email from Solution Fund PAC with the subject line “Giving thanks for YOU and OUR PRESIDENT!” notes Trump’s “last words before leaving the White House to celebrate Thanksgiving” included “strong words of support for Roy Moore.”
Trump all but endorsed Moore as he departed Washington on Tuesday. He discounted the sexual assault allegations and insisted repeatedly that voters must not support Moore’s “liberal” rival.
Two women have accused Moore of sexually assaulting or molesting them decades ago, when he was in his 30s and they were 14 and 16. At least five others have said he pursued romantic relationships when they were teenagers and he was an assistant district attorney. Moore denies the allegations.
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10:45 a.m.
Two Republican groups say they have no plans to support embattled Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore after President Donald Trump all but endorsed him.
Officials with the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee said Wednesday the organizations have made no changes in their decision to withdraw financial and field support from Moore’s campaign.
The groups withdrew their support earlier this month following a series of allegations that Moore sexually assaulted and harassed teenage girls when he was an assistant district attorney in his 30s. He is now 70.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called on Moore to step aside.
Trump referenced Moore’s Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, on Tuesday when he said: “We don’t need a liberal person in there.”
The special election is Dec. 12.
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3:05 a.m.
President Donald Trump is discounting accusations of sexual misconduct against Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, telling voters not to support his “liberal” rival.
Trump spoke to reporters Tuesday at the White House before leaving for a Thanksgiving break at his Florida estate. He says of the Alabama race: “We don’t need a liberal person in there.”
Six women have accused Moore of pursuing romantic relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was an assistant district attorney in his 30s. Two have accused him of assault or molestation. Moore has denied the allegations.
Of the accusations, Trump says that Moore “denies it.”
The president says he’ll announce next week whether he will campaign for Moore, who faces Democrat Doug Jones in a Dec. 12 special election.
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