WASHINGTON, DC — President Trump believes that the Republican candidate for an Alabama seat in the U.S. Senate will "do the right thing and step aside" if recent allegations of sexual misconduct against him are true, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Friday.

On Thursday, The Washington Post published a story in which a woman said that Judge Roy Moore, who will appear on the ballot in a special election for the Senate in December, pursued her and touched her sexually when she was 14 and he was 32. The Post also found three other women who say they had relationships with Moore while he was in his 30s and they were between the ages of 16 and 18. Though these three women said the relationships were consensual and didn't move beyond kissing, they later thought Moore's interest in them was inappropriate. The story was deeply researched and provided significant corroboration of important details.

"Like most Americans, the president believes we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case one from many years ago, to destroy a person's life," Sanders told reporters on a plane during Trumps trip to Asia. She continued: "Regardless, the president must and will remain focused on representing our country on his historic trip to Asia, where he has been treated with great respect and made unprecedented progress in further strengthening alliances and promoting America's interest above all else."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the Post report was published that if the allegations are true, Moore should step aside. Other prominent Republicans made similar comments. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona gave a more forceful and decisive statement about Moore.

"The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying," he said. "He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of."

Watch: Alabama Weighs In On Roy Moore Accusations