Fox News host Sean Hannity gave Roy Moore a 24-hour ultimatum on Tuesday to explain his "inconsistent answers" about allegations of sexual misconduct with teenagers, saying if he failed to do so he should leave the Alabama Senate race.
Hannity closed his program with a monologue summarizing the scandal enveloping Moore and his campaign. A Washington Post report last week quoted four women who said Moore pursued relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s; one said she was 14 when a 32-year-old Moore initiated a sexual encounter with her.
Moore denied the allegations, but in a radio interview last week with Hannity, he said he "generally" did not date teenagers when in his 30s. Then, when another accuser on Monday said Moore sexually assaulted her in a car when she was 16, Moore denied knowing her. However, she produced a high school yearbook from that period with his apparent signature and an affectionate message.
"For me, the judge has 24 hours. You must immediately and fully come up with a satisfactory explanation for your inconsistencies that I just showed," Hannity said. "You must remove any doubt. If you can't do this, then Judge Moore needs to get out of this race."
"The American people deserve 100 percent truth and honesty," Hannity added. "We need correct answers the first time on issues this serious. Judge Moore, you owe that to the people of Alabama, the Republican Party that you represent, and to the country which is suffering under so many problems."
Top Republican lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) have already said Moore should leave the race due to the seriousness of the allegations against him and what they deem his inadequate responses.
Moore has not made any indication he will leave the race. He is facing Democrat Doug Jones in the election scheduled for Dec. 12. Moore defeated incumbent Sen. Luther Strange (R., Ala.) in the GOP primary in September; Strange had been appointed to the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he was confirmed as Attorney General.