Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said Monday that he believes the women who have accused Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct.
"Do you believe these allegations to be true?" a Louisville reporter asked McConnell.
"I believe the women, yes," McConnell responded.
"I believe the women, yes" - Mitch McConnell on the Roy Moore accusers pic.twitter.com/Tvp09VGGWr
— Colin Jones (@colinjones) November 13, 2017
McConnell also told reporters Monday after visiting a plant in Kentucky that Moore "should step aside" in light of the allegations against him.
The Washington Post on Thursday reported that, in 1979, Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32 years old. Three other women told the Post that Moore propositioned them when they were between the ages of 16 and 18 and he was in his early 30s.
Since the accusations against Moore became public, several Republican lawmakers have called on the former Alabama Supreme Court justice to leave his Senate race. McConnell initially said that Moore should step aside if the allegations were proven true.
The Senate majority leader said that Republicans are looking at a write-in option for the Senate race in Alabama.
Moore said Friday on Sean Hannity's radio show that dating teenagers was "not my customary behavior" at the time.
"I'm not going to dispute anything, but I don't remember anything like that," Moore said. "I don't remember dating any girl without the permission of her mother."
After the Washington Post story was published, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which helps the GOP win Senate seats across the country, severed financial ties with Moore's campaign.