Thursday, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) said if elected, Alabama GOP Senate hopeful Roy Moore would cause “long-term damage” to the Republican Party’s brand.
Partial transcript as follows:
REPORTER: Senator, what is your view of Senator Franken’s decision to resign today?
FLAKE: I think he made the right decision. I think it was the right decision.
REPORTER: Does this set a precedent where now the Ethics Committee can look at past behavior? What does it mean for Republicans if Roy Moore becomes senator?
FLAKE: I don’t know. That’s what everybody is trying to figure out now. I mean the Ethics Committee won’t be looking at Al Franken now, but if Roy Moore is elected, leadership has already said they will be looking at Roy.
REPORTER: Should they call for a vote to expel him if he is elected?
FLAKE: We’ll see what the Ethics Committee, what they recommend. I hope he’s not elected. I’m not happy that the RNC is backing him and I think we all ought to be very vocal about it. This is not our best foot forward with Roy Moore and it will have, I think, long-term damage for the party and our brand if we do so.
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