Following Roy Moore's vehement denial of teen sex abuse allegations on Friday, the weekend saw political furore rising and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may have just sealed the Bannon-backed candidate's future.
"It never happened... If you abuse a 14-year-old you shouldn't be a Senate candidate. I agree with that," Moore said. "But I did not do that."
But, as The Hill reports, Mitch McConnel on Monday called for GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore to "step aside," according to the Associated Press...
Here is the video of @SenateMajLdr saying he believes the women accusing Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually assaulting a 14-year old and pursuing other teens. pic.twitter.com/169YSHlXym
— Nick Storm (@NStorm_Politics) November 13, 2017
McConnell was asked if he believes the allegations are true.
"I believe the women," he said.
McConnell is not the first, as multiple lawmakers have called for Moore to step aside following the reports; however, he is the highest-ranking GOP official yet.
Howeverm, as The Hill notes, even if Moore withdraws from the Senate race - something he has said he will not do - Republicans are stuck with his name remaining on the ballot.
The deadline for the party to remove Moore's name from the ballot passed in October, though Republicans could mount a write-in challenge. Republicans have also floated trying to move back the December election date.
McConnell said on Monday that the party is exploring a write-in bid, though he declined to say specifically who would be the candidate.
"That's an option we're looking at, whether or not there is someone who could mount a write in successfully," he said.
Pressed if Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.), who Moore defeated in the GOP primary runoff (and was backed by President Trump), would be the write-in candidate, McConnell added: "We'll see."