A second lady has publicly accused Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster of groping her, and is permitting her title for use.
Herbster, a Republican, allegedly groped eight women from 2017 to this year, the Nebraska Examiner reported earlier this month.
Republican State Sen. Julie Slama was the primary of them to publicly reveal her identification. She described the alleged “sexual assault” at a Republican dinner in 2019 as “one of the most traumatizing things I’ve ever been by means of.”
On Saturday Elizabeth Todsen, a former Nebraska legislative assistant, advised the Examiner that she was groped by Herbster on the identical dinner.
When the Republican mega donor greeted the folks at Todsen’s desk, she stated Herbster’s “hand went to my butt. It was a grab. At that time, I attempted to push away, however I couldn’t. It was like he knew that I couldn’t say something,” she recounted to the newspaper.
Todsen stated she sat there, surprised, grappling with the actual fact of what had occurred. “All I might take into consideration [was] … ‘How do you assist this man?’” she stated.
“For years I’ve struggled with an experience I had with Charles W. Herbster,” Todsen stated in a press release supplied by her legal professional to different media..
“This choice to return ahead with my story has been extraordinarily troublesome attributable to my concern of repercussions from Charles W. Herbster, a robust voice in Nebraska politics. However after enthusiastic about this for years now, I do know that it’s time that Nebraskans know in regards to the horrible actions,” she added.
Herbster, a company CEO with no political expertise who has been endorsed by Donald Trump, has denied all of the claims, insisting they’re a part of a smear marketing campaign to maintain him out of elective workplace.
“We’re going to stick by our statement that Charles 100% denies these allegations,” Herbster’s marketing campaign spokeswoman, Emily Novotny, advised the Examiner, referring to Todsen.
Herbster has sued Slama for defamation; she has countersued for sexual battery. An aide stated Herbster additionally plans to sue Todsen and anybody else who comes ahead.
Todsen has hailed Slama’s braveness for talking out, and known as her a task mannequin for different girls in related conditions.
Slama hailed Todsen’s choice to return ahead.
“I’m so grateful for Elizabeth’s bravery in coming ahead, even within the face of unimaginable threats and strain from Charles Herbster and his supporters to stay silent,” Slama stated. “Charles Herbster is a predator, and I stand with all of his victims, recognized and unknown.”
All 13 feminine state senators within the Nebraska legislature, together with 5 Republicans, issued a press release earlier this month condemning the “extremely credible, corroborated allegations.
“Sexual assault is despicable and damaging,” the senators stated. “This isn’t a query of politics — it’s an issue of character and basic human decency.”
