Fox News host Sean Hannity dismisses Roy Moore's sexual misconduct allegations by saying it was 'consensual'

Screenshot via Fox News

Sean Hannity.

• Fox News host Sean Hannity, speaking on his radio program, dismissed the sexual misconduct allegations against GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore.
• Hannity said Moore's encounter with a 14-year-old girl, detailed in a report by The Washington Post, "was consensual."
• The Washington Post report also quoted three other women who said Moore dated them when they were between 16 and 18 years old and he was in his early 30s.

Fox News host Sean Hannity dismissed allegations against GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore Thursday after several woman told The Washington Post that Moore had initiated sexual relations with them while they were in their teens.

Speaking with Lynda McLaughlin on his radio program, "The Sean Hannity Show," Hannity said he doubted whether or not the allegations made against the Senate candidate and former judge were true.

Hannity began his comments by citing conspiracy theories about the GOP wanting to discredit Moore. "You've got the establishment and they hate Roy Moore. Roy Moore, to them, is another Ted Cruz, another Mike Lee, somebody they can't control ... It's a he-said, she [said]," Hannity said.

Hannity also insinuated that the allegations made by the women were false, saying "there are false allegations made," and asking "Do some people do it for political reasons?"

According to the allegations reported by The Washington Post, a woman named Leigh Corfman said that when she was 14 years old, Roy Moore, then 32, initiated a sexual encounter with her.

Hannity's co-host defended Moore against the allegations by claiming the sexual relationship Moore had with 14-year-old Corfman "was consensual," to which Hannity agreed.

Moore, now 70, vehemently denied the allegations, calling them "completely false and a desperate political attack".

"This garbage is the very definition of fake news and intentional defamation," his campaign said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that Moore should drop out of the race "if these allegations are true." Several other Republicans, including Senators John Cornyn and Mike Lee, both of whom endorsed Moore, echoed that sentiment.

Two Republican senators, John McCain and John Thune, said Moore should step aside immediately, with McCain calling the accusations "deeply disturbing and disqualifying."

Leigh Corfman, now 53, told the Post that she met Moore outside of court in 1979 when her mother was inside for a child custody hearing. Moore, who was then an assistant district attorney, offered to watch her.

Moore asked for Corfman's number and days later took her to his house, where they engaged in sexual activity before she asked to be taken home, Corfman said.

The story also quoted three other women who said Moore dated them when they were between 16 and 18 years old and he was in his early 30s, though none said they had sexual contact with Moore.

Reuters contributed to this report.