Slama recounts encounter while Herbster maintains innocence in radio interviews

Sen. Julie Slama details went into detail allegation against gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – On Thursday, Sen. Julie Slama appeared on KFAB radio and went into detail about her allegation of unwanted touching from GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster back in 2019.

“I felt a hand reach up my skirt, up my dress, and the hand was Charles Herbster’s,” Slama said.

The senator, who represents far southeast Nebraska, was one of eight women to come forward to the Nebraska Examiner for a story published Thursday morning, alleging that Herbster groped them between 2017 and this year.

Slama said the encounter was one of the most “traumatizing” things she’s experienced.

“Being a young woman, there’s a huge power differential there between a newly appointed 22-year-old state senator and one of the biggest donors in the Nebraska Republican Party,” she said.

Herbster also appeared on the radio program and maintained that he never groped Slama, or any woman.

“I absolutely 100% deny all the accusations that were in the article,” he said. “I deny them 100%.”

Herbster went on to say he will be suing to defend his name.

“They did it with Brett Kavanaugh, they certainly did it with Donald J. Trump, and now they’re trying to do it with Charles W. Herbster,” he said. “I’m not going to let this stop me; I’m not gonna let this deter me. I have nothing to hide.”

Several prominent Nebraska politicians lashed out against Herbster after the publication of the article.

All 13 of Nebraska’s female state senators, including Slama, condemned Herbster’s alleged behavior.

“We did know about some of this before it was even released today,” Sen. Carol Blood told a Channel 8 reporter. “We think it’s really important that we stand together and say that this is never OK.”

Gov. Pete Ricketts chimed in saying in a statement:

“This is beyond horrible. Charles Herbster should beg forgiveness of the women he has preyed upon and seek treatment.”

Gubernatorial competitors Jim Pillen and Brett Lindstrom also released statements, with Pillen saying:

“Sexually assaulting women should be disqualifying for anyone seeking to serve as leader.”

While Lindstrom said:

“As a husband and father of two young daughters, this is personal. We need to listen to and stand with the victims.”

Herbster was adamant in maintaining his innocence in the radio interview, questioning the timing of the report.

“It’s unfortunate that we have this happening 27 days from the primary, but I assure you that I deny every single thing that has been said,” he said.

Slama said she chose to come forward so others don’t have to experience what she did.

“My only interest in this is protecting this from happening to other young women because they don’t deserve it,” she said.

The women referenced in the Examiner story ranged from their late teens to mid-20s at the time of the incidents.

Slama was the only woman to not speak under the condition of anonymity.

Unwanted sexual contact that does not cause personal injury is considered third-degree sexual assault in the state of Nebraska.