Mike Pence calls accusations against Roy Moore 'very disturbing'

Vice President Mike Pence has responded to the Washington Post report that Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore, while in his 30s, pursued four teenage girls and initiated sexual contact with one of them when she was just 14.

"The vice president found the allegations in the story disturbing and believes, if true, this would disqualify anyone from serving in office," Alyssa Farah, Pence's press secretary, said in a statement to CBS News on Thursday night. President Trump is in Asia and has not yet responded, making Pence the highest U.S. official to comment on the report.

Other high-profile Republicans have called on Moore to drop out of the Senate race, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who tweeted: "The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying. He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of." Moore is running against Democrat Doug Jones in a December special election.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up