* Dictating to the media doesn’t usually turn out very well…
Video is here.
* And then…
It looks like U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam doesn’t think much of Alabama U.S. Senate hopeful Judge Roy Moore after all.
A few hours after refusing all comment on Moore and his alleged sexual misconduct toward teenage girls, Roskam is calling on Moore to step aside and let someone else fill the Senate seat that was vacated by fellow Republican Jeff Sessions when he became U.S. attorney general.
“The allegations leveled against Roy Moore are disturbing,” Roskam said, according to an NBC News tweet sent after Roskam refused to talk about Moore in a meeting with Crain’s editorial board.
“My office takes allegations of sexual assault and harassment very seriously, and I call on Moore to step aside (as GOP nominee) as a distraction to Senate and House members so they may continue focusing on serving the people,” the statement added.
Roskam’s office confirmed that it issued the statement, but said it was doing so only for media outlets that separately asked about his views. Roskam had told Crain’s that he was meeting with the edit board to talk about tax policy, and not other matters.
That wasn’t so hard, was it?
* In other news, this is from the Pritzker campaign…
Yesterday, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin joined Governor John Kasich of Ohio and countless Republican leaders in calling for disgraced candidate Roy Moore to drop out of the Alabama Senate race, but Bruce Rauner continues to say nothing.
Five women have now bravely come forward alleging Moore pursued sexual relations while they were underage, with a woman yesterday alleging Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16. Nearly the entire Republican party has spoken out, but Bruce Rauner remains characteristically silent.
“This is another clear case of right and wrong, but maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by Bruce Rauner’s silence,” said Pritzker communications director Galia Slayen. “Whether it’s Rauner refusing to speak out about Donald Trump trying to sabotage Obamacare, failing to immediately denounce the anti-Semitism, racism, and violence in Charlottesville, or even acknowledging a racist cartoon printed by his supporters, time and again Bruce Rauner has chosen political expediency instead of standing up to his party and speaking out for what’s right.”
*** UPDATE *** From the ILGOP…
Hi Rich,
I wanted to pass along Mary Ann’s reporting from last night on Roy Moore (video attached). The Pritzker camp falsely stated that Governor Rauner has been silent on Moore, which is not true. The governor believes that Roy Moore should step down immediately.
Speaking of silence, where are J.B. Pritzker’s tax returns? 214 days have elapsed since Pritzker first pledged to release them.
Thanks,
Aaron
That report is here.
* Related…
* Kinzinger: ‘Republican Party ought to disown every aspect’ of Roy Moore
* Roskam at the Center of Political Fight Over Taxes
* Roskam defends GOP tax bill—but concedes it’s ‘not perfect’
* Durbin: Illinois Republicans Must ‘Stand Up And Say No’ To GOP Tax Plans
