Missouri Democrats, Josh Hawley trade punches after Trump endorses Roy Moore

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley’s campaign and Missouri Democrats have been trading barbs after President Donald Trump’s decision to endorse Alabama candidate Roy Moore despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls.

Moore, a former judge and conservative firebrand, has been engulfed in controversy since November after multiple women stepped forward to accuse the Alabama Republican of engaging in sexual behavior toward them when they were under the age of 18.

Despite the allegations, Trump endorsed Moore on Monday ahead of next week’s special election. His endorsement of Moore comes less than a week after Trump endorsed Hawley for next year’s U.S. Senate election in Missouri and promised to campaign for the Missouri Republican.

Hawley, the top law enforcement officer in Missouri, is seeking the Republican nomination to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. The Missouri Democratic Party has called on Hawley to respond to Trump’s decision to endorse Moore so quickly after endorsing him.

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