Trump tweets support for Roy Moore, Alabama senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct with minors

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Trump tweets support for Roy Moore, Alabama senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct with minors

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing the White House for New York in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2017. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan

Thomson Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing the White House for New York in Washington

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  • President Donald Trump said "we need" Roy Moore to win the Alabama Senate race.
  • Trump's endorsement echoes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's.
  • Many Alabama Republicans do not believe the allegations against Moore, according to recent polling.
  • The race is close, with Moore either tied with his Democratic rival in polls, or slightly ahead.


President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday morning support for Roy Moore, the Alabama Senate candidate who stands accused of sexual misconduct with minors.

"Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama.

"We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more. No to Jones, a Pelosi/Schumer Puppet!" Trump tweeted, referring to Doug Jones, Moore's Democratic rival.

Trump's tweet follows a de facto endorsement he gave Moore in November. It comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reversed his stance on Moore.

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McConnell, who previously asked Moore to step aside, told ABC's "This Week" that he was going to "let the people of Alabama make the call," on whether or not Moore should serve.

A CBS poll on Sunday found Moore leading Jones by 6 points, but another poll found the two in a dead-even tie. The CBS poll also found 71% of Republicans in Alabama don't believe the allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore.

In total, seven women have accused Moore of misconduct, the majority of whom were minors at the time. The youngest accuser was 14 when she alleges an inappropriate relationship with Moore, then in his 30s.

Over the weekend, Trump passed his first piece of major legislation in the dead of night with narrow margins. Any erosion of the Republican majority in the Senate could hamper his future chances of passing similar legislation.