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Trump backs accused harasser Moore

Donald Trump says electing a Democrat as Alabama's next senator "would be a disaster, and is backing Roy Moore, who is dogged by sexual misconduct allegations.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Diplomatic Reception Room.
Donald Trump says electing a Democrat in Alabama would be a disaster, and is backing Roy Moore. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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President Donald Trump is again coming to the side of GOP Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore despite calls from other Republican leaders that Moore should leave the race over accusations of decades-old sexual assault.

In a pair of tweets on Sunday morning, Trump said "the last thing we need" in Alabama and the Senate is a "puppet" of the Democratic congressional leadership. Trump contends Moore's opponent, Democrat Doug Jones - a former prosecutor - is "WEAK" on crime and border security, "BAD" for the military, veterans, gun rights, and itching to raise taxes "TO THE SKY."

"Jones would be a disaster!" Trump writes in one tweet, adding in another that "Liberal Jones would be BAD!"

Two women have accused the 70-year-old Moore of sexually assaulting or molesting them decades ago, when he was in his 30s and they were teenagers. At least five others have said he pursued romantic relationships when they were teenagers and he was a prosecutor. Moore vehemently denies the allegations.

A spokesman for the Jones campaign could not immediately be reached by phone for comment. Jones is best known for leading the prosecution of two Ku Klux Klansmen who bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1963, killing four girls.

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Top Republicans in Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, have called for Moore to leave the race, and the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have pulled their support for his campaign.


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