A judge has rejected Roy Moore‘s attempt to stop Alabama from making Doug Jones‘ victory in the state’s Senate race, prompted election officials to declare Jones the official winner.
Montgomery Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick on Thursday denied Moore’s attempt to delay the certification of votes while his questionable claims of voter fraud were investigated. According to the Associated Press, Jones’ win was declared official Thursday.
Moore filed a lawsuit late Wednesday night in an attempt to stop Alabama from certifying Jones as the winner, claiming that he there were irregularities in the voting process. Moore’s attorney’s demanded a fraud investigation and eventually a new election, but Alabama election officials said there was no evidence of fraud.
“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue as election integrity should matter to everyone,” Moore said in a statement Wednesday.
From the AP:
Jones will be sworn in on Jan. 3, narrowing the GOP’s advantage in the U.S. Senate to 51-49. He takes over the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The term expires in January 2021.
Jones is a former U.S. attorney best known for prosecuting two Ku Klux Klansmen responsible for Birmingham’s infamous 1963 church bombing.
Moore’s campaign was deeply wounded by the sexual misconduct accusations. Moore denied the accusations and said in the lawsuit that he had passed a polygraph test to prove they are false.
Featured image via screen grab (YouTube)
