Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

Roy Moore's controversial legal history could prevent him from becoming an influential member of the Senate

Roy Moore
Roy Moore. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

  • In addition to multiple sexual misconduct allegations, GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore's controversial legal career might hinder his ability to land on the Judiciary Committee.
  • Moore has previously said that he would like to serve on the Judiciary Committee.
Advertisement


WASHINGTON — Roy Moore's long and controversial legal career might end up being one of the many factors that prevent him from serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee in the event he wins Alabama's special election on Tuesday.

Moore was removed from the bench as a judge in Alabama in 2004 for refusing to comply with a federal court order to remove a marble monument of the Ten Commandments in the Alabama Judicial Building. In 2016, Moore was suspended for the remainder of his term and later resigned as the state's chief justice for ordering lower courts to disobey the Supreme Court's ruling legalizing same-sex marriages.

Now, as Moore closes in on a victory in Alabama's special election for US Senate, that record is coming back to haunt him on top of the pile of sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Moore's potential colleagues in the Senate have distanced themselves from him tremendously. The National Republican Senatorial Committee severed all financial support for Moore, GOP lawmakers rapidly withdrew their endorsements, and the other senator from Alabama, Richard Shelby, voted for someone else.

Advertisement

Because Moore is such a pariah, due to his vexed legal career and mountain of sexual misconduct allegations, senators on the Judiciary Committee do not seem eager to have him join their ranks.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat and former judiciary chairman, called Moore "a man who turned his back on the Constitution."

"We like to have people who actually respect the constitution on there," he said, referring to the Judiciary Committee.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who broke the Republican ranks to personally write a check to Moore's Democratic opponent, said it is his hope that Moore never finds his way to the committee, noting his preference for Democrat Doug Jones.

Advertisement

"I hope that Alabama voters choose the Democrat," Flake said.

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana suggested that Moore could be waiting in limbo before the committee even considers him for membership, citing the calls for an immediate ethics investigation were he to win on Tuesday.

"If Mr. Moore is elected he will be seated as he's required to be under the Constitution," Kennedy said. "I fully expect someone to file an ethics charge against him and then the facts will come out. And once we get the facts, then I'll make a judgment."

In an interview with CNN, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell deflected any decisions on whether to give Moore a spot until after the results of the election are tallied.

Advertisement

However, Moore has expressed interest in serving on the committee, even if it is a long-shot that Republican leaders would allow it.

"I think I could help with the Judiciary Committee, because I do understand the Constitution," Moore said in an interview with One America News Network. "I do understand what judges do when they put themselves above the Constitution."

Mitch McConnell
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account