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Sen. Gardner: If Moore Wins, Senate Should Expel Him

By Stan Bush

DENVER (CBS4) - Colorado's Republican Senator Cory Gardner says if Roy Moore wins his race in Alabama, the Senate should vote to expel him.

Gardner is the head of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

"It's more important for him to do the right thing than protect a Republican candidate and that's what he's doing," says Dick Wadhams, the former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party.

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CBS4's Stan Bush interviews Dick Wadhams. (credit: CBS)

Moore is accused of sexual misconduct. Monday, a fifth woman came forward alleging Moore assaulted her when she was 16 years old.

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Beverly Young Nelson (credit: CBS)

Beverly Young Nelson says the assault occurred in Dec. of 1977.

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(credit: CBS)

Nelson says she's coming forward now because of the Washington Post story which covered four other women with claims of Moore pursuing relationships with them when they were in their teenage years. Moore was in his 30s.

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Roy Moore (credit: CBS)

"I thought he was going to rape me. I was twisting, and I was struggling, and I was begging him to stop. I had tears running down my face," said Nelson.

Moore calls the accusations "fake news" and a "witch hunt."

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Roy Moore (credit: CBS)

After a weekend of prominent Republicans saying Moore should step down from the race if the allegations against him were found to be true, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he believed the women.

"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," said Sen. Gardner in his statement.

Gardner's statement has been roundly commended, but some in the party wish he has stayed silent.

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CBS4's Stan Bush interviews Jake Viano, Chairman of the Denver County GOP. (credit: CBS)

"I would not have advised him to do that if I was one of his advisors – it's antithetical to the system we have in our country," said Jake Viano, Chairman of the Denver County GOP.

Viano says if the allegations against Moore are true he should only be tried in court.

"What bothers me is our societal shift to believing the court of public opinion and moving away from what this country is founded upon," said Viano.

"There is a long standing narrative that was put out there by the Democrats that we have a war on women. I greatly detest that, and I've argued it tooth and nail that we don't. But, this only helps further that narrative," Viano adds on Moore's campaign.

The scandal threatens to undercut Republican's stronghold on the Alabama Senate seat.

Multiple polls show Moore within the margin of error and even losing the December special election to Democrat Doug Jones.

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Dick Wadhams, the former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. (credit: CBS)

"The Democratic candidate who is doing well might win this race, and Republicans will just have to accept that," says Wadhams.

Stan Bush is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. His stories can be seen on CBS4 News at 10. Read his bio and follow him on Twitter @StanBushTV.

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