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Louie Gohmert says Roy Moore allegations are unfair because 38 years ago was a long time

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), a former judge, says it's 'grossly unfair' to raise such old accusations.

Rep. Louie Gohmert
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday. CREDIT: Fox News screenshot.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that he has “no reason to doubt” the five women who have come forward and accused senate candidate Roy Moore (R-AL) of sexual abuse when they were minors. But while Sessions — who vacated the senate seat to take his current job — joins a growing number of Republicans who are abandoning their own party’s nominee, at least one thinks the process has been “grossly unfair” to Moore.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), a former judge and a self-proclaimed “ardent” Judiciary Committee member told Fox News host Harris Faulkner during a break from the hearing that it is impossible to defend oneself against allegations of wrongdoing from 38 years ago.

“I would submit though when you bring up charges 38 years later — I mean I’ve have prosecuted rape. I have sentenced many rapists to prison. It’s just a absolutely horrendous crime — but we also add into evidence how quickly you had out-cried. That can go to the jury. And if someone waits 38 years I cannot imagine a jury not being completely suspicious,” he observed.

Gohmert acknowledged that victims of sexual misconduct often face pressure and that it can be difficult to come forward, but added, “to wait 38 years, right before an election, it does raise really interesting questions. Anybody can accuse you of something 38 years ago, and Harris, you are not going to be able to find witnesses that will establish exactly where you were at that moment. If they raised allegations within months you could — I’m sure Roy Moore could find ‘Was I in somebody’s court at that time?’ — but you bring it up 38 years later and say ‘here are the specifics,’ people don’t remember 38 years ago specifics to counter. So I think it is grossly unfair.”

Watch:

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) said on Monday that he would continue to support Moore, regardless of the merits of the child molestation claims. His reasoning? He told AL.com that the conservative agenda is “vastly more important” “than contested sexual allegations from four decades ago.”

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Moore twice lost his position as an elected state supreme court justice for failure to follow the constitution.  He also previously said 9/11 was punishment for the U.S. turning away from God, homosexuality should be illegal, and falsely claimed President Obama is a Muslim.

Moore has denied some of the child molestation allegations, while claiming he does not remember others.