Republican leader calls on Roy Moore to withdraw from Senate race amid child sex abuse claims

'I believe the women', Mr McConnell says. Mr Moore denies all the allegations

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called on Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore to withdraw from a special election in Alabama, saying he “believes the women” who have accused Mr Moore of sexual misconduct.

“I think he should step aside,” Mr McConnell told reporters, after asserting last week that Mr Moore must step aside “if these allegations are true”.

“Do you believe these allegations to be true?” a reporter asked the Senate’s top Republican.

“I believe the women, yes,” Mr McConnell responded.

He added that Republicans are looking at a write-in option in Alabama. Under Alabama state law, the ballot cannot be changed within 76 days of an election, according to the Washington Post. The election is scheduled for 12 December.

However, a candidate can still withdraw, or a state party can request a state judge or the secretary of state to disqualify a candidate from the race, the newspaper added.

Last week, the Washington Post published an extensive report alleging that Mr Moore had pursued underage girls.

The report alleged that decades ago he had initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32. Three other women also alleged that Mr Moore made advances on them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, but indicated that he had not attempted to initiate sexual contact with them. Those women ranged in age from 16 to 18.

All four women, who don't know each other, are on the record and their stories have been verified by others.

Mr Moore has denied the allegations – declaring at a campaign stop in Alabama that the accusations against him were part of a conspiracy between Democrats, the Republican establishment and the media.

A fifth woman came forward on Monday at a press conference. Beverly Young Nelson alleged Mr Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16. Mr Moore denied the claim and called the allegations a “witch hunt” in a statement shortly before the press conference.

Since the former judge hails from a deeply conservative state, many still expect him to win the election next month. But there is uncertainty over how having him in the Senate will affect the Republican party’s reputation on a national scale.

Over the weekend, many Republicans began to further distance themselves from Mr Moore, who was already considered to be a controversial candidate.

On Friday, Politico reported that the Republican Party’s Senate campaign wing has terminated its fundraising deal with Mr Moore.

Mr Moore, known for making strong anti-gay and anti-Muslim comments, had not been Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s first choice to be the Republican candidate in Alabama’s special senatorial election.

Mr McConnell and other establishment Republicans – as well as President Donald Trump – had backed Luther Strange, who had been selected to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Jeff Sessions became Attorney General.

While on the campaign trail to defeat Mr Strange, Mr Moore – supported by ex-White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon – said Mr McConnell was an obstacle to a more conservative agenda.