Mitt Romney unloads on Roy Moore the same day Trump endorses him, says he would be a 'stain on the GOP'
- Mitt Romney issued one of the harshest rebukes of Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore by a prominent Republican.
- Romney, who is reportedly considering a Utah Senate bid, said electing Moore would "stain" the GOP and the nation.
- Moore, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with teenagers, fired back, arguing that Romney "has lost his courage" or "doesn't care about truth anymore."
Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential nominee, issued one of the harshest rebukes from a prominent Republican of Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with teenagers.
"Roy Moore in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes," he wrote. "No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity."
Moore fired back at Romney minutes later, suggesting that Romney is a member of the elite who should be purged from the party.
"Either @MittRomney has lost his courage or he doesn't care about truth anymore. Sad day! America's reawakening was led by @realDonaldTrump, not you Mitt. #DefeatTheElite #DrainTheSwamp," Moore wrote.
Romney, who is reportedly considering a Utah Senate bid, also spoke out against Moore last month.
"Innocent until proven guilty is for criminal convictions, not elections. I believe Leigh Corfman. Her account is too serious to ignore. Moore is unfit for office and should step aside," Romney tweeted.
Romney's statement came just hours after President Donald Trump officially endorsed Moore.
"Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama," he tweeted. "We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more."
Moore broadcasted the president's endorsement on Monday afternoon, claiming Trump have him his "full support."
"'Go get 'em, Roy!' - President Trump," he wrote. "Just got off the phone with President Trump who offered his full support and said he needs a fighter to help him in the US Senate. I look forward to fighting alongside the President to #MAGA!"
Moore has enjoyed continued support from Steve Bannon, Trump's former top White House strategist, who is helping recruit and support far-right candidates in the 2018 midterm elections.
Other Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have appeared to reverse course over whether Moore should drop out of the Senate race. Despite calling for the GOP nominee to step aside last month, saying that he believed the women's stories, McConnell refused to say on Sunday whether Moore belonged in the Senate.
"I'm going to let the people of Alabama make the call," McConnell said. "The election's been going on a long time, there's been a lot of discussion about it. They're going to make the decision a week from Tuesday."