Moore Underage Sex Allegations: Colo. GOP Finance Chief Watching

DENVER, CO -- Allegations that Alabama special election Senate Candidate Judge Roy Moore sexually molested several women, including a girl age 14 when he was 32, have spilled into Colorado politics. Republican Sen. Cory Gardner joined Sen. Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans demanding answers to the allegations, published in the Washington Post.

Gardner chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee which finances senatorial runs nationwide. The committee originally backed Moore's opponent, incumbent US Sen. Luther Strange in the primary. But after Moore was carried to primary victory with the help of former Trump campaign strategist and Breitbart publisher Steve Bannon, Colorado's Gardner said he supported Moore. Gardner told the Denver Post getting Moore elected was “imperative to passing a conservative agenda.”

The state of Alabama will hold a special election Dec. 12 to replace Sen. Jeff Sessions, who was appointed U.S. Attorney by President Donald Trump. The Washington Post published a series of allegations accusing Moore of sexual misconduct, including a report that he had initiated sexual contact with a 14-year old girl.

Four women claimed Thursday Moore pursued them sexually and romantically when he was in his 30s and they were under the age of 18. One of the accusers said she was only 14 at the time she had a sexual encounter with Moore. That woman, Leigh Corfman, said that in 1979 she had several encounters with Moore and described them in detail, which she said involved a 32-year-old Moore kissing and touching her.

Moore's campaign office denied the accusations.

Thursday, Gardner told the Post Moore needed to prove the allegations false, or step down from the GOP nomination.

“The allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore are deeply troubling," Gardner said in a statement. "If these allegations are found to be true, Roy Moore must drop out of the Alabama special Senate election.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell added, "If these allegations are true, he must step aside."

A statement from Moore's campaign said, "Judge Roy Moore has endured the most outlandish attacks on any candidate in the modern political arena, but this story in today's Washington Post alleging sexual impropriety takes the cake." The statement, notes that Moore has been married to the same woman for 33 years and has four children and five grandchildren.

The statement continued, "After over 40 years of public service, if any of these allegations were true, they would have been made public long before now."

Read more on Patch:

Alabama Senate Candidate Roy Moore Fondled Girl, 14: Report

Michael Seale, Patch Staff contributed to this article.

Image of Roy Moore and wife, Kayla, by David Bundy/Associated Press