U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore declined to answer questions about the sexual misconduct allegations surrounding his campaign on Thursday during a press conference where some 20 pro-life advocates said they continue to back his candidacy.

Moore said the allegations from seven accusers who claimed he either sexually assaulted, harassed or dated them when they were teenagers were politically motivated.

"This is an effort by Mitch McConnell and his cronies to steal this election from the people of Alabama, and they will not stand for it," he said, adding that McConnell needs to "step down" as Senate majority leader.

Moore also lambasted the media, claiming he has not been asked anything substantive since the first allegation surfaced last week.

"I haven't had one question from the press or the media about issues in this case since these allegations have occurred," he said. "What is important is how we address the issues that are facing this country."

But reporters disputed that, tweeting that questions about policy went unanswered:

Moore says he has not gotten one question about issues since the story broke. I sent a question to the campaign about the repeal of the individual mandate in the tax bill. #ALSEN #alpolitics — Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) November 16, 2017

The pro-life leaders, including former GOP presidential candidate Alan Keyes and Flip Benham, formerly the director of the pro-life group Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, asked Alabama voters not to listen to Washington or outsiders about who to vote for in the Dec. 12 special election despite most of them not being from Alabama. Pastors from Opelika and Gallant - where Moore lives - were the only speakers hailing from the Yellowhammer State.

Janet Porter, president of the Ohio-based pro-life group Faith2Action, chastised the media for asking Moore about the allegations and quickly shut down the questioning after roughly two-hour press conference.

"You were asked to ask questions about the issues. The issues about our state. The issues about our country. You were not asked to ask personal questions about Mr. Moore," she said. "We wanted to hear what he had to say about the issues and you did not allow because you are the fake, lying news from the swamp."

Benham, who protested abortion clinics in Alabama in the late 1980s, said reporters who were covering the event at the Birmingham Marriott were "deranged people" who were "frothing at the mouth."

"What you like to do is bury [Moore.] And why? What did he do?" Benham said.

Keyes railed against the Republican establishment for urging that Moore withdraw from the race after the accusations came to light last week.

"The one that people have chosen to be their agent, their representative and their ambassador, they're telling us that he is not entitled to the presumption of innocence. That when people come forward with scurrilous accusations ... they must be treated as true, and they tell us that the presumption of innocence has no place in our elections," he said. "I want every voter in Alabama to understand that they're trying to tell you that this is about Roy Moore, but in fact it is about stripping you of the presumption of innocence. It's about stripping you of ...inalienable rights that make you the ultimate sovereign voice, the people at large."

"Because Roy Moore is the candidate of the people, that process is withdrawn from you. They are saying: 'Roy Moore, you are not a person," he added.

The press conference was ongoing as the Alabama Republican Party Steering Committee released a statement saying they were sticking with Moore as their candidate.

"The ALGOP Steering Committee supports Judge Roy Moore as our nominee and trusts the voters as they make the ultimate decision in this crucial race," Alabama Republican Party Chairmwoman Terry Lathan said in the statement. "Alabamians will be the ultimate jury in this election- not the media or those from afar."