DIGNITY FIRST

Sen. Shelby: Alabama ‘Deserves Better’ Than Moore

The Republican lawmaker says he “couldn’t” vote for Trump’s preferred candidate amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Republican Sen. Richard Shelby on Sunday said he’s already cast his vote in Tuesday’s Senate election—and it wasn’t for fellow Republican Roy Moore, who has the support of President Trump despite a flurry of misconduct allegations. “I'd rather see the Republican win, but I'd rather see a Republican write-in. I couldn't vote for Roy Moore. I didn't vote for Roy Moore,” Shelby told CNN. “We call it a tipping point,” he said of allegations Moore sexually pursued several underage girls when he was in his 30s. “I think, so many accusations, so many cuts, so many drip, drip, drip—when it got to the 14-year-old's story, that was enough for me. I said I can't vote for Roy Moore,” he said. “The state of Alabama deserves better” than Moore, he said. “I do believe the Republicans can do better.” With Alabama voters set to go to the polls on Tuesday, Moore had a slight lead over his Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, as of Saturday, according to a new poll.