In the wake of sexual misconduct allegations leveled against U.S. Senate hopeful Roy Moore, challenger Doug Jones says he is sticking with the same message he has had since first announcing his campaign.

“It is now more important than ever to talk about the issues that mean so much to the state of Alabama,” Jones said Saturday to a group of Democrats gathered at the McAbee Activity Center.

After a brunch hosted by the Tuscaloosa County chapter of the Alabama Democratic Conference, Jones maintained that Moore, former Alabama chief justice, needs to better address allegations recently published in The Washington Post. In the story published Thursday, Moore was accused by a woman of initiating a sexual encounter back in 1979, when she was 14 years old and he was 32. Three other women claimed Moore had pursued relationships with them when they were between 16 and 18 and he was in his 30s.

Moore has adamantly denied the allegations, claiming they are being made in an effort to discredit him and his campaign.

Although Moore spoke at length on the allegations during a radio interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Friday, Jones said the people of Alabama deserve to hear a better explanation from him.

“These are very serious allegations that he needs to significantly try to address,” Jones said. “I don’t believe that just blaming other people and calling someone names is the way to do that. He needs to address it and let the people of Alabama make their choice.”

Sue Bell Cobb, former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who attended the brunch, also weighed in on the allegations against Moore, saying she had heard rumors of sexual misconduct from as early as 2013, when Moore was running for chief justice again. He had previously served as chief justice from 2001 to 2003 before being removed from office by Alabama Court of the Judiciary for refusing to take down a monument to the Ten Commandments installed in front of the Alabama Judicial Building.

“I was disappointed that there had not been more investigative journalism done the last time he ran because I had heard rumors, but I never knew anything firsthand,” said Cobb, who served as chief justice from 2007 to 2011. “I do believe that based on what I know and heard from the courthouse in Etowah County, I am convinced that these women are telling the truth.”

Cobb, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 2018 Alabama governor’s race, said that at the time, she encouraged people to speak out if they knew anything further about the rumors, but never heard from anyone.

Cobb said the allegations against Moore, as well as his past controversies while serving on the court, should disqualify him from holding office. After winning the election for state Supreme Court chief justice again in 2013, Moore was suspended from office in 2016 after directing probate judges across the state to not grant marriage licenses for same-sex couples. After attempts to appeal the decision, Moore resigned from office in April 2017.

“What should disqualify him equally is the fact that he does not understand the rule of law and that’s been proven by him being removed twice from office,” she said.

With national attention focused on the allegations against Moore, Jones told the audience that now was not the time for celebration.

“People can look at this and start congratulating folks. Don’t believe it,” he said. “We’re not going to take our foot off the gas and I intend to take our message of jobs, education and health care back to the people of our state.”

Cobb was not shy in her endorsement of Jones, calling Moore “an embarrassment in every respect to the state of Alabama.”

“Doug Jones’ election is essential for our state for a multitude of reasons,” she said. “Doug is eminently more qualified, where former chief justice Roy Moore has no qualifications that make him suitable to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate.”

Additionally, Jones said he wants to make sure he talks about Alabama putting “its best foot forward” as he talks about health care, education and jobs.

“We’re not going to be talking the issues that people use to divide this state,” he said. “We’re going to be talking about finding common ground.”

The election will be held Dec. 12.

Reach Drew Taylor at drew.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.