December 08, 2017 11:51 AM UTC

Cory Gardner: Let The Moore Backpedal Begin

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• by: Colorado Pols

Republican leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are softening their tone on accused pedophile and former judge Roy Moore as Tuesday’s U.S. Senate election in Alabama approaches. And now so is Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma).

Gardner maintains that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which he helms for the 2018 cycle, will absolutely not support Moore’s candidacy. Of that, Gardner has been fairly consistent…but now he’s starting to backpedal on what happens if Moore wins on Tuesday.

Here’s the exact exchange between Gardner and Fox 31 reporter Joe St. George, as reported today:

JSG: “If Roy Moore wins, should he be seated?”

GARDNER: “Again, that’s a question…that’s a Constitutional question to the Supreme Court.”

New: @SenCoryGardner on Roy Moore…I asked if he wins should he be seated. Gardner says that is a constitutional issue #roymoore #ALSenate pic.twitter.com/wNpCiZoxqq

— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) December 8, 2017

This is a considerably different answer than the one Gardner gave on November 13. As the Denver Post reported at the time:

“I believe the individuals speaking out against Roy Moore spoke with courage and truth, proving he is unfit to serve in the United States Senate and he should not run for office,” Gardner said in a statement. “If he refuses to withdraw and wins, the Senate should vote to expel him, because he does not meet the ethical and moral requirements of the United States Senate.”

President Trump, the latter of whom is doubling-down on his support of Moore. Trump is in Pensacola, Florida today for a rally that is totally not at all about Roy Moore and the fact that Pensacola is in the same television market as Mobile, Alabama.