WASHINGTON — Breaking ranks with members of his party, outspoken Virginia Republican Corey Stewart has voiced support for Alabama Republican Roy Moore, saying allegations that Moore had sexual contact with a child should not be believed.
“I think it’s wrong to be just assuming that somebody is guilty, especially from allegations that are 40-years-old,” said Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. “Until there’s proof, I don’t believe it.”
Stewart added that “there’s no way to prove it.”
“These allegations are 40 years old and they’re unsubstantiated,” he said.
Stewart has joined the Republican primary race in hopes of challenging Democrat Tim Kaine for his Senate seat next year. He made the comments in a video he posted to his campaign’s Facebook page.
Moore, who is running in a special election for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, has denied allegations made in a Washington Post report that he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl when he was in his 30s, and pursued three other teenagers decades ago.
Speaking to supporters Sunday night in Huntsville, Alabama, Moore called the report “fake news” and said he would file a lawsuit over the story. The former judge also questioned why such allegations would be leveled for the first time so close to the special election despite his decades in public life.
“Why would they come now? Because there are groups that don’t want me in the United States Senate,” he said, naming the Democratic Party and the Republican establishment and accusing them of working together.
In the aftermath of the report, a wave of Republican leaders called for Moore to drop out of the race.
Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock likened Moore to Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, former Rep. Anthony Weiner and former Fox News executive Roger Ailes — all men accused of sexual misconduct.
“The defense from some of his supporters is beyond disgusting,” Comstock said. “Moore should not serve in the U.S. Senate.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called Moore “unfit for office,” and Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s only Republican member of Congress, said Moore should “withdraw from the race” if the allegations are true.
Watch Stewart speak about Roy Moore. His comments begin about 21:20:
Part 2
Posted by Corey Stewart on Friday, November 10, 2017
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
