News / Politics

Republican senate hopeful’s sex scandal widens as more victims come forward

Thursday, 16 November 2017 9:33 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 16 November 2017 10:22 AM ]

Beverly Young Nelson (left) the latest accuser of Alabama Republican Roy Moore, reads her statement as attorney Gloria Allred looks on, at a news conference, in New York, November 13, 2017. (Photo by AP)

Four more women have leveled sexual assault accusations against Republican Senate hopeful Roy Moore, in a damaging sex scandal that has cost the Alabamian dearly in the heat of the campaign.

The newest accusations were carried in a New York Times report on Wednesday, from women who ranged in age from about 18 to 28 at the time when Moore approached them and allegedly groped, forcibly kissed or subjected to them unwanted advances.

One of the accusers is Becky Gray, now 62, who was a retired teacher living in Gadsden at the time. She said she Moore, then in his 30s, kept talking with young women and she did her best to avoid him.

Moore approached Gray and other women at a mall so many times that the manager had to eventually ban him.

“I just couldn’t figure out why a man of his age spent every Friday and Saturday at the mall,” said Gray.

Republican candidate for US Senate Judge Roy Moore (Photo by AFP)

Moore has yet to directly address any of the four new accounts. However, his campaign dismissed the new allegations as a “political farce.”

"If you are a liberal and hate Judge Moore, apparently he groped you. If you are a conservative and love Judge Moore, you know these allegations are a political farce," read a statement by Moore’s campaign.

Last Thursday, The Washington Post published the first case. The report accused more Moore of taking Leigh Corfman, now 53, into his house in the woods near Gadsden, when she was 14 years old, and abusing her by removing her shirt and pants.

So far, nine women have come out against the Republican hopeful, who has lost many endorsements from his fellow party members.

PressTV-Republican to 'step aside' if sex allegations true: Trump

President Donald Trump says if the allegations of sexual misconduct against an Alabama senate candidate are true, he should withdraw from his race.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that if the accusations are accurate, Moore should drop out of the race. "If these allegations are true, he must step aside."

Vice President Mike Pence's office issued its own statement on Moore, saying, "The vice president found the allegations in the story disturbing and believes, if true, this would disqualify anyone from serving in office."

US President Donald Trump has also reacted, saying Moore should “step aside” and withdraw from his race if the allegations are proven true.

Moore’s campaign has denied the report, saying in a statement that, “This garbage is the very definition of fake news and intentional defamation.”

"These allegations are completely false and are a desperate political attack by the National Democrat Party and the Washington Post on this campaign," the 70-year-old Moore said.

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