“As a 14-year old, I did not deserve to have you, a 32-year old, prey on me,” Leigh Corfman wrote in an open letter to Roy Moore, a congressional candidate from Alabama, published Tuesday by the Washington Post. “I sat quietly for too long, out of concern for my family. No more.”
Corfman, who accused Roy Moore earlier this month of sexually abusing her when she was 14 and he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney, hand-delivered the letter to local news website AL.com Tuesday after Moore repeated attacks on her character in a campaign appearance Monday night.
“I am not getting paid for speaking up. I am not getting rewarded from your political opponents,” she wrote. “What I am getting is stronger by refusing to blame myself and speaking the truth out loud. The initial barrage of attacks against me voiced by your campaign spokespersons and others seemed petty so I did not respond. But when you personally denounced me last night and called me slanderous names, I decided that I am done being silent.”
Lawmakers across parties—including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R)—have denounced Moore in light of the revelations and urged him to step down from the race. President Trump, however, has expressed unwavering support for Moore, who will be campaigning with former Trump advisor Steve Bannon this week. Polls currently show Moore neck-and-neck with his Democratic rival, Doug Jones.
Five other women have since come forward accusing Moore of sexual misconduct—three of whom allege Moore pursued relationships with them while they were between the ages of 16 and 18.
“I am telling the truth,” Corfman declared in her letter, “and you should have the decency to admit it and apologize.”
You can read Corfman’s letter in full at the Washington Post.
