Kansas Senate Candidate Admits 'Mistakes Were Made' in Church Sexual Abuse Scandal

Kansas Democrat Adam Hamilton acknowledged Wednesday that mistakes were made concerning a former church volunteer accused of sexual abuse.

During a Senate debate, Hamilton, a Methodist pastor and candidate for the U.S. Senate, addressed allegations surrounding Scott Moore, a convicted sex offender. Moore was accused of molesting teenage boys at church retreats in 2005 and 2006.

Hamilton stated that an internal church review of allegations from two boys in 2005 was inconclusive, and police later investigated. He admitted that Moore should not have been allowed to return as a volunteer in November 2006 after the initial allegations.

"I should have checked to make sure that he wasn’t going back," Hamilton said, referring to his absence from the church when the decision was made to allow Moore's return. "That was a mistake on my part."

He added that the church later forbade Moore from working with youth or children after he was investigated the following year. Hamilton also stated that the church played a role in Moore's eventual arrest and conviction.

Moore was convicted in 2013 of misdemeanor sexual battery related to an incident in 2010. Teenagers who alleged abuse in 2005 and 2006 testified against him in that case.

In November 2005, two boys reported to church officials that Moore had touched them inappropriately at an overnight retreat. According to court documents, the victims provided detailed statements but could not positively identify Moore at the time.

Moore returned as a volunteer in November 2006 and allegedly touched another boy inappropriately. The church notified the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, but charges were not pursued by the county attorney’s office.

Hamilton, who is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, has previously stated that he would handle such situations differently in retrospect, but maintained there was no cover-up. He also criticized former President Joe Biden’s border policies and distanced himself from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Marshall's campaign has focused on the church scandal in its messaging. The race for the Kansas Senate seat is currently competitive, according to polling data.