Donald Trump 'shouldn't resign over misconduct claims', new Alabama Senator Doug Jones says

The Democrat who defeated Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate election does not think Donald Trump should resign as President despite sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Doug Jones, who won a surprise victory against front runner Mr Moore on Tuesday, said the allegations against Mr Trump were made “before the election” and he believes the country needs to “move on and not get distracted by those issues”.

The President has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women who have come forward with their testimonies. The White House refutes all the allegations and maintains the women are lying.

During an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Mr Jones was asked whether he would join Senate colleagues, such as Cory Booker of New Jersey, in calling for the president's resignation.

He replied: “Where I am on that right now is that those allegations were made before the election. And so people had an opportunity to judge before that election. I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues.

He added: “Let’s get on with the real issues that are facing people of this country right now, and I don’t think the President ought to resign at this point. We’ll see how things go but certainly those allegations are not new and he was elected with those allegations at front centre.”

In October last year footage emerged of a 2005 conversation in which Mr Trump bragged to a television host about using his fame to make sexual advances and was heard saying he felt able to “grab them by the pussy”.

Before his election victory Mr Trump said he would sue his accusers after the election but that has never transpired and more women have since come forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

Mr Jones won the election in Alabama against controversial candidate Mr Moore who has been accused of sexually abusing teenage girls.

In his acceptance speech, Doug Jones said: “Alabama has been at a crossroads. We have been at crossroads in the past. And unfortunately we have usually taken the wrong fork. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, you took the right road.”