Slama explained what she described as an “attack” in 2019 in an interview on Thursday, the day the Nebraska Examiner reported that she and seven other women had accused the Republican businessman of stroking them. “As … I was walking to my table, I felt a hand lift my skirt, my dress and my hand was Charles Herbster,” Slama told News Radio KFAB in Omaha. “I was shocked. I was sad. “It’s one of the most traumatic things I’ve ever experienced.” Slama added: “I watched as he grabbed the buttocks of another young woman five minutes later… This was seen by several people at the event.” Slama spoke of the frightening, “huge difference in power” in this situation between herself, a then-newly appointed 22-year-old senator, and “one of the biggest donors to the Nebraska Republican Party.” Herbster has denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating “Similar, baseless allegations concerning Herbert have been made more than once. He called the complaint schedule a few weeks before the main suspect. The Examiner confirmed six of the eight allegations with witnesses, the newspaper reported. All of the alleged incidents occurred between 2017 and this year and involved teens up to women in their 20s, according to the Examiner. All 13 women senators in the Nebraska Legislature, including five Republicans, issued a statement Thursday condemning the “extremely credible, confirmed allegations.” “Sexual assault is abhorrent and destructive,” the statement added. “This is not a matter of politics – it is a matter of character and basic human decency.” Herster’s actions “make him unfit to serve,” the statement concluded. Herbster, owner and CEO of Conklin Company and sometimes a beauty pageant judge, is currently the race leader for the Nebraska governor, although he has never held a political office. He reportedly donated $ 1.3 million to Trump’s campaigns and attended a Jan. 6, 2021 rally outside the Capitol with members of Trump’s inner circle. The story goes on Donald Trump Jr. campaigned with Herbster in Nebraska earlier this week. Trump hailed Herbster, who considers himself a born-again Christian, as a “huge supporter of America First.” The allegations against Herbster are unlikely to shake Trump’s support. Trump has been accused by dozens of women of sexual harassment. He was also recorded boasting that he “grabs” women “from the pussy”. The former mayor of Omaha reportedly responded to the accusations by saying that he wanted to put Slama on the witness stand to ask her what she was wearing when she was allegedly caressed. So Slama showed him – and stressed to KFAB that “clothes are not equal to consent”. Under Nebraska state law, touching a person inappropriately without their consent outside their clothing is a third-degree sexual assault. Qualifying elections for candidates for governor and deputy governor will be held on May 10. The winner of the Republican qualifiers was expected to win the November general election. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
