Moore campaign reposts pastors’ letter of support amid allegations

The wife of embattled Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore sought Monday to draw attention to an August letter from 53 Alabama pastors supporting him in the GOP primary as allegations of sexual misconduct build ahead of next month’s special election.

The letter, published on AL.com and highlighted on Kayla Moore’s Facebook page, praises the candidate for his “immovable convictions for Biblical principles” and says he suffered “persecution” for his faith by opposing gay marriage as Alabama’s chief justice.

“For decades, Roy Moore has been an immovable rock in the culture wars — a bold defender of the ‘little guy,’ a just judge to those who came before his court, a warrior for the unborn child, defender of the sanctity of marriage, and a champion for religious liberty,” the letter reads.

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In a The Washington Post report last week, four women alleged that Moore pursued sexual or romantic relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, including one woman who said he touched her sexually when she was 14 and he was 32.

On Monday, a new accuser emerged who said Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16.

Moore’s campaign says he has never committed sexual misconduct.

Several GOP senators have called for Moore to withdraw from the race, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Moore has repeatedly denied the allegations and said that he will remain in the race to fill the Senate seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.