Sexual misconduct accusations transform Alabama Senate race

Alabama's Republican Senate candidate, Roy Moore, is under heavy pressure to drop out over sexual misconduct claims: https://t.co/iBNCFfr5DY pic.twitter.com/sqDET3UGN1

— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 10, 2017

By STEVE PEOPLES
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans are not supposed to worry about Alabama.

But in the span of a tumultuous afternoon, a low-profile special election became a Republican nightmare that threatens a once-safe Senate seat. And it offers a new window into ugly divisions that continue to plague the GOP in the age of President Donald Trump.

Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore is denying allegations of decades-old sexual misconduct with minors published Thursday in a Washington Post story. The revelations come a month before the Dec. 12 special election, and they’re triggering a backlash from would-be Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill, who are calling on the 70-year-old conservative Christian to quit the race if the allegations are true.

It’s a bittersweet moment for some Republicans who thought Moore never should have been the party’s nominee.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Our children and grandchildren’s futures are on the line.

So rest assured — I will NEVER GIVE UP the fight! (4/4) #ALSen pic.twitter.com/QfN0GM7EMh

— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 9, 2017

White House says that President Trump believes if Roy Moore allegations are true, Moore will "do the right thing and step aside" https://t.co/TDob7KUCyF pic.twitter.com/JbHXQA5kTT

— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 10, 2017