Charles Herbster.Photo: Scott Olson/Getty
Just two weeks after a Nebraska lawmaker came forward with other women to publicly accuse Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster of once groping her, another woman has publicly stepped forward with similar allegations against the candidate.
In April, Republican state Sen. Julie Slama was among eight women to tellThe Nebraska Examinerthat Herbster, a leading contender in the GOP primary race, touched them inappropriately. While the women remained anonymous in that initial story, Slama identified herself once the story was published.
On Sunday, a second woman publicly identified herself as an alleged victim of Herbster. Elizabeth Todsen, a former state chair of the College Republicans, told the Examiner that she was 23 years old when she attended a 2019 fundraiser for the local Republican party.
While at the dinner, Todsen said Herbster greeted those seated at her table, shaking hands with the men but pulling her into what she called “an aggressive” embrace.
“It was more than a hug,” Todsen told the outlet. “His hand went to my butt. It was a grab. At that point, I tried to push away, but I couldn’t. It was like he knew that I couldn’t say anything.”
Combat veteran Edward Boone — who was also in attendance at the dinner — backed up Todsen’s story to the Examiner.
The politician himself has suggested on social media that the claims — six of which the Examiner corroborated with at least one eyewitness — are the result of the “the establishment machine within my own party.”
He called the women’s stories “100% false,“according toThe Omama World-Herald. (Herbster did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for clarification or further comment.)
After Slama went public, Herbsterfiled a defamation lawsuitagainst her, seeking damages “in an amount to be determined at trial, fees and costs, and such other relief as may be appropriate,” the Examiner reports.
Days later, Slamacounter-sued Herbster, claiming sexual battery. Slama is seeking damages for damage to her reputation and to cover psychological care.
In the wake of the allegations and Herbster’s suit against Slama, four Republican state senators announced last week they had launched afundraising effortto cover potential legal costs for anyone who might come forward with credible allegations of sexual impropriety against Herbster.
On Sunday, former President Trump appeared at arallyfor Herbster, who he said had been “badly maligned and it’s a shame.”
Trump, who himself has been accused of sexual assault in the past (which he also denies), told the crowd at the Nebraska rally: “It would have been easy for me to say, ‘I’m not gonna come.’ I defend my people when I know they’re good.”
source: people.com
