US President Donald Trump does not plan to campaign for a Republican candidate who is embroiled in allegations of child sex abuse, the White House says.
Mr Trump last week defended former Alabama judge Roy Moore, pointing out he “totally denies” the claims.
But White House officials said on Monday the Republican president is not scheduled to hit the trail for Mr Moore ahead of the election on 12 December.
Mr Trump attacked Mr Moore’s Democratic opponent on Sunday.
A number of top Republican senators have called on 70-year-old Mr Moore to step aside following claims he molested or harassed teenage girls as young as 14 while he was in his 30s.
Media playback is unsupported on your device
“Liberal Jones would be BAD!” Mr Trump wrote over the weekend about Doug Jones, who polls show is nearly neck and neck with Mr Moore in the staunchly conservative Deep South state.
White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told The Hill, a political newspaper, “there is nothing on his schedule at this time” when asked about the possibility of Mr Trump travelling to Alabama.
Seven women have accused Mr Moore of pursuing sexual relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was a 30-something prosecutor.
One was 14 and alleges he molested her. Another says he tried to rape her.
Two other women who were in their 20s at the time accuse him of making unwanted advances.
Media playback is unsupported on your device
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has reportedly been saying a recording in which he infamously bragged that his fame entitled him to grab women’s vaginas is a fake.
Despite the fact that he immediately apologised for the remarks when the Access Hollywood tape surfaced in October 2016, Mr Trump has recently disputed the veracity of the video, according to the New York Times.
The newspaper reported: “He suggested to a senator earlier this year that it was not authentic, and repeated that claim to an adviser more recently.”
During last year’s election campaign, Mr Trump was accused by several women of sexual impropriety.
The Democrats have their own problems with sexual misconduct claims.
Minnesota Senator Al Franken said on Sunday he is “embarrassed and ashamed” by accusations he groped women, but maintained he does not plan to resign.
The former comedian told the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “I’ve let a lot of people down and I’m hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust.”
He added: “Again, I respect women. What kills me about this is it gives people a reason to believe I don’t respect women.”
And John Conyers is stepping down as senior Democrat on the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee as lawmakers investigate sexual harassment claims against him.
The 88-year-old Michigan representative’s office has acknowledged resolving a harassment case with a payment but no admission of guilt.
Appearing on an NBC political talk show on Sunday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for “zero tolerance” on sexual harassment.
Asked if she believed in Mr Conyers’ accusers, she said: “I don’t know who they are. Do you? They have not really come forward.”
