Roy Moore Vows to Sue Washington Post

Senior Republicans are backing away from Roy Moore amid allegations of sexual misconduct—but Breitbart.com is still firmly on the Alabama US Senate candidate's side. Steve Bannon has sent at least two reporters to Alabama in an attempt to discredit Moore's accusers, Axios reports. Leigh Corfman says Moore made a sexual advance on her when she was 14, though a Breitbart story published Sunday says her mother "contradicted a key detail." Corfman told the Washington Post that she spoke to Moore on her bedroom phone. Her mother, however, says Corfman didn't have a phone in her room, but "the phone in the house could get through to her easily." But she also says she is standing by the Post's story, which is "truthful" and "researched very well." In other developments:

• Moore suing. Moore told supporters in Huntsville on Sunday night that he is planning to sue the Washington Post over the allegations, which he has denounced as "fake news," the AP reports. He said allegations that he was involved with a minor are "untrue" and accused the Democratic party of working with the GOP establishment to keep him out of the Senate.
• Calls to step aside. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey added his voice to those calling for Moore to quit the race Sunday, AL.com reports. "You know, this is a terrible situation, nearly 40-year-old allegation, we'll probably never know for sure exactly what happened," Toomey said. "But from my point of view, you know, I have to say, I think the accusations have more credibility than the denial. I think it would be best if Roy would just step aside."

• "Significant issue." Other Republicans addressing the issue Sunday included Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, who told CNN "there is a significant issue here" that needs to be investigated. Ohio's Gov. John Kasich said "of course" Moore should step aside, while White House aide Kellyanne Conway said the behavior described, if true, was "disqualifying."
• Going back to God. In his Sunday night speech at the Huntsville Christian Academy, Moore tried to put the focus back on conservative Christianity, the Washington Post reports. "We can be proud of where we came from and where we're going if we go back to God," Moore said. "If we go back to God, we can be unified again."
• "She did not go to them." In another Breitbart story published Sunday, Corfman's mother said Washington Post reporters talked her daughter into going public. "She did not go to them," she said. "They called her." The Post says it is true that none of the four women in its story sought out the newspaper. They were contacted by reporters who heard allegations while reporting on Moore's Senate run, the Post says.
• Evangelical soul-searching. Evangelical Protestants make up around half of Alabama's population and they have long considered Moore a close ally. The allegations, however, have caused plenty of soul-searching amid evangelical voters. "This is one of those excruciating decision moments for evangelicals," Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, tells the AP. "These allegations, if true, are devastating. If true, this is a very big deal."

(Moore's lead in the polls vanished after the claims surfaced.)