HOGAN CALLS ON ROY MOORE TO QUIT RACE: Gov. Larry Hogan delivered his harshest criticism to date against a fellow Republican early Saturday, calling for Alabama candidate Roy Moore to withdraw from the U.S. Senate special election and breaking the silence of his state party. Maryland Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Andy Harris — who endorsed Moore — were mum this past week after The Washington Post reported that the then-Alabama district attorney is alleged to have initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was in his 30s.
HARRIS SILENT, THEN POSTS ON ROY MOORE: Maryland and Virginia Republicans who endorsed Roy Moore’s candidacy for U.S. Senate were silent Friday morning after accusations that Moore initiated sexual contact with minors while he was in his 30s, writes Jenna Portnoy for the Post. The Post reported allegations that Moore initiated contact with a 14-year-old girl when he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney in Alabama and pursued three other females between the ages of 16 and 18. Moore denies any wrongdoing.
The Maryland Democratic Party challenged the state’s only Republican in Congress on Friday to denounce Alabama GOP senate nominee Roy Moore. A spokesman for the state Democratic Party said Rep. Andy Harris, a Baltimore County Republican, should withdraw his endorsement of Moore, the subject of allegations he initiated relationships with minors in the 1970s and 1980s, John Fritze reports in the Sun.
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) said if the allegations are true, Moore should drop out of the race in Alabama. On Friday evening, Harris, the only Republican representing Maryland in Congress, posted a one-sentence statement about Moore on his Facebook page. “If the allegations regarding Leigh Corfman are accurate, Judge Moore should withdraw from the race,” he wrote.
SPEECHWRITER, PUNDIT RICHARD CROSS DEAD AT 51: Richard J. Cross III, a longtime speechwriter who worked for Helen Delich Bentley and for former Gov. Bob Ehrlich and who would later become a Republican renegade after leaving the State House, has died. He was 51. Michael Dresser writes the obituary for the Sun. He was also a longtime friend of many journalists including Roundup editor Cynthia Prairie, who sends her condolences to his sister Gina.
