CNN’s Kate Bolduan Reminds GOP Rep Calling for Due Process for Roy Moore of Statute of Limitations

In the wake of the bombshell allegations that Roy Moore pursued relationships with teenage girls when he was in his 30s and initiated sexual contact with a 14-year-old when he was 32, a number of Republicans on the Hill have called on the Alabama GOP Senate candidate to step aside. Meanwhile, the word “if” was doing a lot of work, as most condemnations included the disclaimer of “if the allegations are true.”

During a segment on CNN this morning, one Republican congressman struggled with his talking points on Moore and seemed to believe that the ex-Alabama judge was facing criminal charges and that we needed to wait until a court decision before condemning him.

CNN anchor Kate Bolduan had to helpfully remind him that due process doesn’t apply in this situation.

After Bolduan asked him his thoughts on the Moore allegations, Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) said it was a “he said/she said at this point” and “if the allegations are true, that’s a real problem for Mr. Moore” and that he should not run for the Senate.

“What more is there to learn?” Bolduan interjected. “I’m hearing from Republicans as well, what more is there to learn? If it’s four people on the record, the then 14-year-old says — is on the record talking about what amounts to sexual abuse, back then, and 30 people corroborated their stories, and these — and this then 14-year-old not that it should matter says she’s voted Republican in the last three elections and voted Republican for Donald Trump. What more is there to learn?”

The Texas lawmaker stated that “we have something called due process in the United States,” adding that we shouldn’t be trying cases in the Washington Post and called for us to wait until a jury of Moore’s peers came down rendered a verdict.

“But Congressman, there’s not going to be a case,” Bolduan exclaimed, obviously referencing the fact that the statute of limitations had passed. “There’s not going to be a case. There’s no — there’s not going to be a case here. I’m not asking you if he’s guilty or innocent. I’m asking if he should be a United States senator?”

Arrington tried again to play the “due process” card: “And I’m telling you that the only way to render a verdict of if he’s telling the truth or they’re telling the truth is to have a jury of their peers and have due process, not play it out in the national media.”

“There’s not going to be a case,” Bolduan explained, again. “There’s a statute of limitations on this. This is what voters get to decide on. Do you think voters should vote for him?”

After that, Arrington switched tactics, realizing that due process didn’t apply and instead accused the Washington Post of biased journalism, leading Bolduan to point out that the Post’s story had 30 corroborating sources and that the women accusing Moore all went on record. By the end of the segment, we were at the same place as we started, with Arrington going the “if it’s true” route in saying Moore could be unfit for office.

Earlier today, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was unequivocal while condemning Moore as he said “innocent until proven guilty is for criminal convictions, not elections” and that Moore should “step aside.”

Watch the clip above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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