At a rally on Sunday, former President Donald Trump defended Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, calling recent sexual misconduct allegations against him “malicious” and citing them as the primary reason for his decision to hold an event in the Cornhusker State ahead of the GOP primary later this month.
The vehement defence came just days after the Nebraska Examiner reported that seven women, including Republican state Sen. Julie Slama, had accused Herbster of groping them at political events or beauty pageants, with another woman accusing him of forcibly kissing her. According to the publication, in six of the cases, at least one eyewitness corroborated the women’s claims.
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“He’s been badly maligned and it’s a shame” -Trump defends Herbster
While delivering his remarks in Greenwood on Sunday, former president Donald Trump claimed that Herbster had been targeted and “badly-maligned” and that he was a good man. “He’s been badly maligned and it’s a shame. That’s why I came out here. It would have been easy for me to say, ‘I’m not gonna come.’ I defend my people when I know they’re good.” -said the former president, who has been accused of sexual misconduct himself several times, all of which he has denied. On Sunday, Trump claimed that he had met several of Herbster’s friends who defended him before Trump took the stage on Sunday.
“Charles W. Herbster will never bend to the RINOs, the media, or the radical left. That’s why they’re doing everything they can to stop him. Malicious charges to derail him long enough that the election can go by before the proper defence can be put forward,” -Trump said on Sunday.
Also read| Trump to hold rally in Nebraska for GOP candidate with harassment allegations against him
Herbster was endorsed by Trump in October 2021 for the Nebraska race. “Charles W. Herbster has been a tremendous supporter of America First and Make America Great Again right from the beginning. He is running for Governor for the Great State of Nebraska, and will do a fantastic job. With Loony Tune Senators like Little Ben Sasse representing the wonderful people of Nebraska, it is particularly important that a great Governor be elected to help fortify the State. Charles W. Herbster has my complete and total endorsement!” -read the official statement from the former president.
“He’s been badly maligned and it’s a shame” -Trump defends Herbster
A few days ahead of the Republican primary, Herbster has been accused of several allegations of sexual misconduct filed by numerous women including State Senator Julie Slama. Herbster has denied all such allegations, expressing his surprise at being accused in the first place.
“I’m shocked and surprised at the accusations because in 2019 and 2020 and 2021, I certainly didn’t know there was any problem with (state Sen.) Julie Slama, we attended events together, I assure you, I have never and never will act in the way that these accusations last week were levelled at me. I have taken the route of attorneys to protect my name and my reputation.” -Herbster said.
“I can assure you that all of those allegations are totally false. I have never, ever done any of the things (alleged) with any individual period in my entire life,” -he added. “I have never, ever done any of the allegations from anyone who saw it or feels they were involved. I’ve never done that. So they’re 100% false,” Herbster said. “And if they were not, I assure you I wouldn’t have a law team involved. And I wouldn’t be taking the steps that I’m taking and I’m sure that I wouldn’t be here today with you. … All of these accusations, period, are 100% false 100.” -he added.
