State Auditor Jim Zeigler is sticking by his endorsement of Roy Moore in the special election for the U.S. Senate and dismissed the relevance of a Washington Post story about Moore's alleged pursuit of teenage girls when he was in his early 30s.

"First, Roy Moore denies the report," Zeigler said. "Secondly, it happened 37 years ago. Third, in each of the alleged incidents, the Washington Post says there was no sexual intercourse and he did not attempt sexual intercourse.

"So even if you believe the Washington Post story, he stopped. But he denies the Washington Post report," Zeigler continued.

Religious leaders slam Zeigler for comparing Moore scandal to Joseph and Mary "Take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus," Zeigler said. "There's just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a little bit unusual."

"The Washington Post has had paid investigators in Alabama for the last month trying to dig up dirt on Roy Moore," Zeigler said. "The best they could come up with was something that happened 37 years ago that he denies."

Zeigler also questioned the credibility of the main accuser in the story.

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Zeigler mentioned encounters between men and much younger women in the Bible.

"Zechariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist," Zeigler said. "Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus."

"There's just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a little bit unusual."

Edited at 4:53 p.m. to correct spelling of Zechariah.