Senate candidate Roy Moore remains defiant as some supporters bolt

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - A month before a special election in Alabama for a vacant U.S. Senate seat, some Republicans running away from candidate Roy Moore, who is denying reports that he had sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32. One of his most prominent supporters—Sen. Mike Lee of Utah—has rescinded his endorsement. The response from the Senate hopeful is defiance.

"I never talked to her. I never had any contact with her," he told Sean Hannity's radio show. "Allegations of sexual misconduct with her are completely false. I believe they are politically motivated."

The Washington Post detailed the claims against Moore, now 70. The newspaper also reported that Moore pursued other women in their late teens. The former judge is not denying he may have dated teens while he was in his 30s.

"Not generally, no. If I did—I'm not going to dispute anything, but I don't remember anything like that," he said. "I don't remember ever dating any girl without the permission of her mother."

But national Republican leaders, including President Donald Trump, called for Moore to drop out of the race if the allegations are true.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that the president doesn't think a "mere allegation" from many years ago should destroy a person's life.

But, "the president also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside," Sanders added.