Rep. Jeff Duncan quiet on Roy Moore endorsement despite calling for Conyers' resignation

Congressman Jeff Duncan endorsed Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore on October 31, calling him “a man of high principle and steadfast character.” Since then at least nine women have accused Moore of making unwanted physical advances on them when they were as young as 14 years old.

Republicans in South Carolina and across the country have withdrawn support for Moore since initial reports by the Washington Post, including four of the five incumbent senators listed in the press release noting the 3rd District congressman’s endorsement. Moore is accused of initiating unwanted sexual contact including groping and forcibly kissing underage teen girls and young women.

U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott have both taken steps to distance themselves from Moore even though they never actually endorsed him. Duncan, however, is the state’s only elected politician found as an official endorser on RoyMoore.org and has remained silent on his support since the allegations were reported nine days after he signed on with the Moore campaign.

But last week, the congressman did say that he thought his colleague, Democratic Rep. John Conyers should resign over allegations of sexual misconduct.

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Political figures accused of sexual misconduct in recent weeks have not been met with the same swift and universal condemnation as men outside the halls of power.

President Donald Trump, himself accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, has renewed his support for Moore and has reportedly confided that he believes reports of what could amount to child sexual assault were fabricated. Trump previously assailed media figures like Matt Lauer on Twitter for their reported sexual advances.

Steve Bannon, the Bretibart executive credited with helping Trump ignore criticism after the Access Hollywood tape, is also standing by Moore despite nearly a dozen accusers. (Trump has reportedly also told people he thinks the Access Hollywood tape is fake.)

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In Congress, Democratic and Republican leaders dragged their feet for days before taking a position on Moore, Conyers, and others. Today, a group of female Democrats in the Senate calling for Sen. Al Franken to step down will likely trigger his resignation tomorrow, weeks after allegations first surfaced. Duncan’s rebuke of Conyers came around the same time Democratic leaders decided to take a stand.

Conyers resigned this week amid questions by Congressional Black Caucus colleagues as to why pressure centered on him and not other lawmakers in similar circumstances.

Multiple requests for comment on Duncan’s endorsement have gone unanswered over the past week.