The controversy over Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore has put Republican senators in a bind. The former state Supreme Court justice had already been accused by four women of pursuing romantic relationships with them when he was in his 30s and they were teens, including one who said he initiated sexual contact. A fifth woman has now also accused Moore of sexual assaulting her when she was a teen. Some Alabama residents have said it was “common knowledge” that he pursued teens. Moore denies the allegations and has said he intends to continue running. So far, Moore has few defenders among Republicans currently serving in the Senate. But lawmakers have taken varying stances on how far they’d go to oppose his election, from saying he should drop out if the allegations are true. to withdrawing their endorsement, to recommending he be expelled from the Senate if elected. No current Republican senator has called for Moore to stay in the race. Here’s a roundup of how all 52 Republican senators have responded. No comment about Roy Moore: Sens. Tom Cotton, Mike Crapo, Deb Fischer and John Kennedy Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (Pool) Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Deb Fischer of Nebraska and John Kennedy of Louisiana have not yet commented, according to a roundup by ABC News. Not withdrawing his endorsement of Moore: Sen. Rand Paul Getty Images)Sen. Rand Paul (Getty Images) Rand Paul of Kentucky, who endorsed Moore, is the only Republican senator who has not yet withdrawn his endorsement. Paul was seriously injured earlier this month after an attack by a neighbor. He has not made any comment yet. Saying Moore’s fate is up to the voters: Sen. Luther Strange Sen. Luther Strange (CQ-Roll Call) Luther Strange of Alabama, who lost to Moore in the primary, said: “These allegations are very serious. We learned more today. It’s really going to be up to the people of my state to try to make sense of this and decide how they want to proceed.” Senator Luther Strange (R-AL) on Roy Moore: "The facts are unfolding. These allegations are very serious. It’s really going to be up to the people of my state to try to make sense of this and decide how they want to proceed.” — Walt Cronkite (@WCronkite) November 14, 2017 Calling for Moore to withdraw if the allegations are true: Sen. Marco Rubio and 24 others Sen. Marco Rubio (Alex Brandon—AP) Marco Rubio of Florida: “Today’s report in The Washington Post raises allegations against Mr. Moore that are deeply disturbing and, if true, disqualifying.” Richard Burr of North Carolina: “If any aspect of The Washington Post story is true, he should do the right thing and withdraw.” Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia: “If the allegations reported in The Washington Post are true, Roy Moore should immediately step aside.” Lamar Alexander of Tennessee: “If these disturbing allegations are true, Roy Moore should withdraw from the Senate race.” John Barrasso of Wyoming: “These charges seem very credible, they’re very disturbing. If true, he should move aside.” John Boozman of Arkansas: “He believes that if the allegations are true, Roy Moore should step aside — no ifs, and/or buts about it.” Roy Blunt of Missouri: “The women have a more credible story than Judge Moore. Alabama voters should have a better choice and Judge Moore should have better answers to these charges.” Mike Enzi of Wyoming: “Sen. Enzi does believe that if the allegations are true that Roy Moore should step aside from the race.” Similar statements have been made by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, Georgia Sen. David Perdue, Idaho Sen. James Risch, South Dakota Sens. Mike Rounds and John Thune, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and Mississippi Sens. Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran, according to the roundup by ABC News. Withdrawing their endorsements of Moore: Sens. Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Mike Lee, Bill Cassidy and Steve Daines Sen. Ted Cruz (CQ Roll Call) Ted Cruz of Texas: “I am not able to urge the people of Alabama to support his candidacy so long as these allegations remain unrefuted. Both last week and this week, there are serious charges of criminal conduct that, if true, not only make him unfit to serve in the Senate but merit criminal prosecution.” "As it stands, I can’t urge the people of Alabama to support a campaign in the face of these charges without serious, persuasive demonstration that the charges are not true," Cruz told reporters about the Moore election. — Claire Allbright (@claireallbright) November 14, 2017 Texas Sen. John Cornyn: “I believe the accusations against Roy Moore are disturbing and, if true, disqualifying. The most appropriate course of action, in my view, is to leave the final judgment in the hands of Alabama voters — where it has always belonged — and withdraw my endorsement.” John Cornyn withdraws his support of Roy Moore. http://pic.twitter.com/CmCzqf4rsF — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 13, 2017 Mike Lee of Utah: “Having read the detailed description of the incidents, as well as the response from Judge Moore and his campaign, I can no longer endorse his candidacy for the US Senate.” Having read the detailed description of the incidents, as well as the response from Judge Moore and his campaign, I can no longer endorse his candidacy for the US Senate. — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 10, 2017 Bill Cassidy of Louisiana: “Based on the allegations against Roy Moore, his response and what is known, I withdraw support.” Based on the allegations against Roy Moore, his response and what is known, I withdraw support. — Bill Cassidy (@BillCassidy) November 12, 2017 Steve Daines of Montana: “I am pulling my endorsement and support for Roy Moore for U.S. Senate.” I am pulling my endorsement and support for Roy Moore for U.S. Senate. — Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) November 10, 2017 Calling for Moore to withdraw: Sen. Mitch McConnell and seven others Sen. Mitch McConnell (Getty Images) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: “I believe the women … he should step aside.” BREAKING: Senate leader Mitch McConnell says he believes women who have accused Roy Moore of inappropriate sexual contact, says Moore "should step aside." — The Associated Press (@AP) November 13, 2017 John McCain of Arizona: “The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying. He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of.” The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying. He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of. — John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) November 9, 2017 Susan Collins of Maine: “I have now read Mr. Moore’s statement and listened to his radio interview in which he denies the charges. I did not find his denials to be convincing and believe that he should withdraw from the Senate race in Alabama.” I have now read Mr. Moore’s statement and listened to his radio interview in which he denies the charges. I did not find his denials to be convincing and believe that he should withdraw from the Senate race in Alabama. — Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) November 13, 2017 Lindsey Graham of South Carolina: “In light of the most recent allegations and the cumulative effect of others, I believe #RoyMoore would be doing himself, the state, the GOP, and the country a service by stepping aside.” In light of the most recent allegations and the cumulative effect of others, I believe #RoyMoore would be doing himself, the state, the GOP, and the country a service by stepping aside. If he continues this will not end well for Mr. Moore. — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 13, 2017 Chuck Grassley of Iowa: “He should step aside. The trouble is, if he agreed to step aside, his name is still on the ballot. People can still vote for him and he could get elected.” Bob Corker of Tennessee: “Look, I’m sorry, but even before these reports surfaced, Roy Moore’s nomination was a bridge too far.” Look, I'm sorry, but even before these reports surfaced, Roy Moore's nomination was a bridge too far. — Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) November 11, 2017 Thom Tillis of North Carolina: “The allegations leveled at Roy Moore are disturbing. I have serious concerns about his prior conduct and fitness for office. He should immediately withdraw from the race.” The allegations leveled at Roy Moore are disturbing. I have serious concerns about his prior conduct and fitness for office. He should immediately withdraw from the race. — Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) November 13, 2017 Rob Portman of Ohio: “I think if what we read is true, and people are on the record so I assume it is, then he should step aside.” Rob Portman on Roy Moore: "I think if what we read is true, and people are on the record so I assume it is, then he should step aside." — Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott) November 9, 2017 Recommending Alabama write-in someone else: Sens. Orrin Hatch, Pat Toomey and Ben Sasse Sen. Orrin Hatch (Reuters) Orrin Hatch of Utah: “These are serious and disturbing accusations, and while the decision is now in the hands of the people of Alabama, I believe Luther Strange is an excellent alternative.” I stand with the Majority Leader on this. These are serious and disturbing accusations, and while the decision is now in the hands of the people of Alabama, I believe Luther Strange is an excellent alternative. https://t.co/L7IallXhBc — Orrin Hatch (@OrrinHatch) November 13, 2017 Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania: “From my point of view, you know, I have to say, I think the accusations have more credibility than the denial. I think it would be best if Roy would just step aside.” Republican Sen. Pat Toomey is calling for Roy Moore to “step aside,” suggests Luther Strange as a potential write-in candidate. https://t.co/hwsF7j90Xc — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 12, 2017 Ben Sasse of Nebraska: “The Post’s story is appalling and heartbreaking. If there’s an ounce of truth to any of this, Roy Moore has no place in public life and ought to drop out immediately. Alabamians should start thinking about who they’ll write in but it’s obvious that conservatives deserve better than this.” Same https://t.co/cidhIJyT9t — Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) November 10, 2017 Recommending Alabama vote for Democrat Doug Jones instead of Moore: Sen. Jeff Flake Sen. Jeff Flake (Getty Images) Jeff Flake of Arizona: “If this choice is between Roy Moore and a Democrat, a Democrat. … I would literally — if I were in Alabama — I would run to the polling place to vote for the Democrat.” Just to be clear. If the choice is between Roy Moore and a Democrat, I would run to the polling place to vote for the Democrat https://t.co/Ec96HRt228 — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 13, 2017 Calling to remove Moore from the Senate if he’s elected: Sens. Cory Gardner and Todd Young Sen. Cory Gardner (CQ-Roll Call) Cory Gardner of Colorado: “If he refuses to withdraw and wins, the Senate should vote to expel him, because he does not meet the ethical and moral requirements of the United States Senate.” Read my latest statement on Alabama’s U.S. Senate special election:https://t.co/rilQfqiJ9Z http://pic.twitter.com/GQvsGhbnYA — Cory Gardner (@CoryGardner) November 13, 2017 Todd Young of Indiana: “The appearance of grossly reprehensible behavior disqualifies him from service in the United States Senate. If he does not step aside, we need to act to protect the integrity of the Senate.” The appearance of grossly reprehensible behavior disqualifies him from service in the United States Senate. If he does not step aside, we need to act to protect the integrity of the Senate (2/2) — Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) November 13, 2017 Ryan Teague Beckwith #politics #TheNewz #DDNews
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