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Saturday 18 November 2017

Allegations against Alabama’s Roy Moore dividing GOP women

By KIM CHANDLER The accusations sent a
Associated Press shockwave through the
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Senate race in Alabama,
— Standing on the white where Republicans typi-
marble steps of Alabama’s cally have a lock on state-
Capitol, Kayla Moore sur- wide election. Democrats
rounded herself with two already hoped to stand a
dozen other women Friday chance against the polar-
to defend husband Roy izing jurist who was twice
Moore against accusations removed from chief justice
of sexual misconduct that duties because of defying
are dividing Republicans, court orders regarding the
and women in particular. Ten Commandments and
“He will not step down. gay marriage.
He will not stop fighting for A Fox News poll released
the people of Alabama,” Thursday, a week after the
Kayla Moore said at a first accusations, showed
“Women for Moore” rally. Jones leading Moore by
Acting as her husband’s eight points. Support from
lead defender, she lashed women was helping to give
out at the news media Jones the edge with 68 per-
and thanked people who cent for Jones compared
were sticking behind her to 32 percent for Moore.
husband. “To the people Kayla Moore, wife of former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, speaks One of them is longtime Re-
of Alabama, thank you for at a press conference, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. Moore spoke out in defense of publican Tracy James, who
being smarter than they her husband, saying they have been married for over 32 years and the Army veteran has always worked for former senator
think you are,” Moore said. been an officer and a gentleman. and current U.S. Attorney
Not everyone is sticking (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) General Jeff Sessions. Her
with Roy Moore, however, 30s. Several of his accusers come forward,” Payne said decisions,” Ivey said. cousin was a Republican
and certainly not all wom- have allowed their identi- of the accusers. Moore has ignored mount- governor. She won’t vote
en. ties to be made public. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey ing calls from Washington for Moore, a decision she
“I was going to vote for him. One said Moore molest- said she also has no reason Republicans concerned made before the election.
I was going to be one of ed her when she was 14. to disbelieve the women that if he stays in the race “My hope is that the Moore
his voters. I just don’t know Another said Moore as- and is bothered by their al- against Democrat Doug debacle will not only be a
that I can vote for him any- saulted her when she was legations. But Ivey said she Jones he may not only lose wake-up call for evangeli-
more,” said Laura Payne, a a 16-year-old waitress af- will vote for Moore anyway a seat they were sure to win cals, but also for Repub-
Trump delegate to the 2016 ter he offered to drive her for the sake of GOP power but also may do significant licans, who should stand
Republican National Con- home. Five others said in Congress. damage to the party’s back and say, ‘Wow, look
vention. Moore pursued roman- “We need to have a Re- brand among women na- at the kind of person we al-
Since last week, Moore has tic relationships with them publican in the United tionwide as they prepare most elected to our ranks,”
been engulfed by accusa- when they were between States Senate to vote on for a difficult midterm elec- James said.
tions of sexual misconduct the ages of 16 and 18. things like Supreme Court tion season. But Kayla Moore says her
toward women in their “I have not found any rea- justices, other appoint- The Alabama GOP, mean- husband is exactly the kind
teens when he was a dep- son not to believe them .... ments that the Senate has while, reaffirmed its support of person who needs to be
uty district attorney in his They risked a whole lot to to confirm and make major for Moore on Thursday. in the Senate.q

Congress paid $17 million in workplace violation settlements

WASHINGTON (AP) — The a wave of revelations of her and groped her during 2017 that would have been ployees. The office, which
government has paid more sexual misconduct in the a 2006 USO tour. released as part of the was created in 1995 by the
than $17 million in taxpay- worlds of entertainment, In a statement on the of- OOC Annual Report early.” Congressional Account-
er money over the last 20 business and politics that fice’s website on Friday, it The independent office ability Act, said the cases
years to resolve claims of consumed Capitol Hill this said “based on the volume doesn’t break the figures may involve violations of
sexual harassment, over- past week. Two female of recent inquiries about down, meaning there’s multiple statutes.
time pay disputes and lawmakers described inci- settlements reached un- no way to determine how The claims range from sex-
other workplace violations dents of sexual harassment, der the Congressional Ac- many of the 264 settle- ual harassment complaints,
filed by employees of Con- one in explicit detail, and countability Act, the ex- ments and awards dealt allegations of religious and
gress. Minnesota Sen. Al Franken ecutive director is releas- specifically with cases of racial discrimination, and
The Office of Compliance apologized to a woman ing awards and settlement sexual misconduct brought overtime pay disputes, ac-
released the numbers amid who said he forcibly kissed figures for 2015, 2016 and by legislative branch em- cording to the office. q