Republican Sen. Tim Scott says Roy Moore should 'move on'
"I want to be on the side of right when history writes the story," Scott said.
— -- Republican Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said it's time for embattled GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore in Alabama to "move on."
"It is pretty clear to me that the best thing that Roy Moore can do for the country is to move on," Scott told "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz in an exclusive interview Sunday.
"It is time for us to turn the page, because it is not about partisan politics," Scott said. "It is not about electing Republicans versus Democrats. This is about the character of our country. I want to be on the side of right when history writes the story."
At least eight women have in recent weeks accused the 70-year-old Moore of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior when he was in his 30s. He has denied the allegations.
Raddatz pressed Scott on whether President Donald Trump, who has defended Moore and attacked his Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, is on the "side of wrong."
Trump blasted Jones in another tweet Sunday morning.
"The president will have to make his own decisions on where he thinks he is and why he’s there," Scott responded. "From my perspective, I’m not taking it from a Republican perspective or a Democrat perspective. I’m thinking about those folks who have been negatively impacted by these allegations. I’m thinking about the long-term health of the country from a personal perspective that leads me to one conclusion. I’ve been there, I’m staying there, and I am looking for ways for us to heal this devastating wound in this country."
Scott over the summer said Trump compromised his "moral authority" when he seemed to ascribe moral equivalence to white nationalist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, and counterdemonstrators. A woman was killed when a man allegedly drove his car into a group of counterdemonstrators.
"What we want to see from our president is clarity and moral authority. And that moral authority is compromised" by his comments two days after the killing, Scott said in an Aug. 17 interview with Vice News.
Raddatz asked Scott whether he thought Trump's moral authority was again compromised because of his defense of Moore.
"I don't think so. I think the reality of it is that — while I have read through as many stories as I could get my hands on, [and] I think the issue in the case is compelling," Scott replied. "I think there are many Americans who disagree with me vehemently. I don't necessarily understand how, but they do."
Related Topics
Related Stories
ABC News Live