Roy Moore suffers setback as court backs rival Doug Jones in Alabama
The Republican candidate attempted to block official confirmation of his loss over voter fraud claims, but a judge rejected this.
Thursday 28 December 2017 20:31, UK
Controversial US Senate candidate Roy Moore has lost a legal fight to block official confirmation of his defeat over claims of "systematic voter fraud".
Republican Moore, whose campaign was dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls, was beaten by Democrat Doug Jones in the special senate election in Alabama on 12 December.
But Moore, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, has refused to concede the election ever since.
His court filing came just hours before election officials in Alabama were due to certify Jones' victory, clearing the way for him to be sworn in on 3 January.
Moore claimed he has evidence of voters coming from other states to cast a ballot in Alabama. He has also pointed to suspiciously high turn-out in some counties, voter intimidation and efforts by his opponent to spread lies about him.
But Montgomery Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick refused to put Jones' certification on hold while the investigation continues.
Moore's refusal to accept defeat has kept in the public eye a political saga that was painful and embarrassing for many Republicans.
Senior figures in the party disavowed their own candidate as allegations mounted against him but Trump opted to endorse the 63-year-old anyway.
Moore's defeat was not only a rejection of Trump's appeals but also trims the Republican majority in the US Senate, making attempts to move the president's agenda even more difficult.
Moore's claims of voter fraud have been rejected by election officials in Alabama. Secretary of state John Merrill said that only 100 cases had been reported and that 60 of those had so far been adjudicated.
Jones won by more than 20,000 votes.
Moore has consistently denied the allegations made against him during the campaign.
His legal filing contained an affidavit from him that he had undergone a lie detector test which cleared him on sexual misconduct.
A spokesman for Jones said that Moore's "attempt to subvert the will of the people will not succeed. The election is over. It is time to move on."