US Senate candidate dismisses sexual misconduct claims as 'fake news'

Former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore has again denied reports that he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl and three other teenagers in the 1970s, dubbing them as "fake news".

He said it is "very strange" that allegations labelled against him have surfaced a month before the December 12 special election, in which he faces off against Democrat Doug Jones.

Moore termed the allegations as "completely false and untrue", saying that he has highest regard for the protection of young children.

"That they would wait 40 years is absolutely unbelievable," The New York Post quoted Moore as saying about his accusers.

He also vowed to reveal about the motivations of his accusers in the next few days.

Earlier reports had surfaced that Moore dated teenage girls when he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney in Etowah County, northeast of Birmingham.

A leading U.S. daily published interviews with the alleged victims, including one who claimed that she was only 14 when Moore brought her home, partially undressed her, touched her sexually and tried to talk her into having an intimate relations with him.

According to reports, several Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have asked Moore to drop out of the race if the women's claims are true.