Trump fully endorses Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday fully endorsed Roy Moore, going even further in his support of the Alabama Senate candidate accused of making unwanted sexual advances on teenage girls than he had in backing Moore last month.

“Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama,” Trump tweeted early Monday. “We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more. No to Jones, a Pelosi/Schumer Puppet!”

In November, Trump pointed to Moore’s denials of the allegations against the candidate from several decades ago, and the president spoke against voting for Democrat Doug Jones, but did not explicitly endorse Moore.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan have previously called on Moore to step aside, saying they believe the allegations. The Republican National Committee is among several conservative groups to withdraw support. But in a sign the GOP is warming to the candidate, McConnell said Sunday on ABC News that the decision should be left to the Alabama voters.

Trump is not campaigning for Moore directly but will hold a rally on Friday in the Florida panhandle, which shares a media market with Mobile, Ala. The special election to fill the seat of Jeff Sessions, who is now attorney general, is Dec. 12.