Moore handily won the Republican primary in the race to fill Session's old seat back in September, and was gearing up to face Democrat and former US Attorney Doug Jones in a special election next month.

The allegatios have elicited howls of outrage from Democrats and Republicans alike, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell demanding that Moore 'step aside' if the allegations are true.

Moore's accuser, Leigh Corfman, is now 53, and she said she met Moore when he offered to watch her during her mother's child custody hearing. Moore, at the time, served as an assistant district attorney. Corfman said Moore asked for her phone number, and that the two met on two more occasions. On the first, the two kissed. During the second, she said Moore removed his clothes, took off her shirt and pants, and touched her over her bra and underpants, but did not have sexual intercourse.