9th District GOP candidates say Roy Moore should step aside – but with a caveat

The two Republicans running in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District say Alabama Republican Roy Moore shouldn’t be in the Senate – if claims against him are true.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that two more women have accused the former judge of unwanted overtures when they were teens. Five others already have leveled similar accusations.

“If these allegations are true, he needs to step aside,” U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger said in a statement in response to an Observer request.

Mark Harris called the allegations against Moore “extremely disturbing.”

“If true, he has no business serving in the US Senate or in any elected position,” Harris said in a statement. “I believe the voters in Alabama are in the best position to judge the truth of these allegations and that determination should be left to them. I have confidence the voters of Alabama will carefully evaluate both these allegations and Moore’s response over the coming days…”

Other Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, originally said Moore should resign if the allegations “are true.” They have since dropped the caveat.

Pittenger defeated Harris by 134 votes in last year’s GOP primary.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 10:41 AM with the headline "9th District GOP candidates say Roy Moore should step aside – but with a caveat."