Breitbart News is running interference for Roy Moore amid reports of sexual impropriety with teenagers

Breitbart editor defends Roy Moore
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/MSNBC)

Shortly before The Washington Post published its bombshell report in which four women said on the record that Roy Moore, the Republican nominee for Senate in Alabama, had come on to them when they were teenagers as young as 14, Breitbart News published a pre-emptive article casting the Post article as a political hit job. "Breitbart News obtained details of the forthcoming Post story from the newspaper's letter detailing the allegations sent to Moore's campaign for comment," the site explained.

Breitbart did recount the most serious allegation — that Moore befriended a 14-year-old girl while her mother was at a custody hearing, then drove her to his house on two separate occasions, the second time removing her shirt and pants and moving her hand over his underwear — but also published a strong denial from Moore and cast doubt on the accuracy the Post's motives and reporting. The site also downplayed the allegations that Moore hit on and took out older teenage girls, saying that a woman who was 17 when she dated the 30-something Moore "characterized Moore as being romantic, reading poetry to her, and playing the guitar. The woman is cited saying that physical contact only involved kissing and did not progress any further."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.