- Trump said accusations that gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster groped eight women were "unfair."
- Speaking at a rally in Nebraska, Trump said Herbster was "the most innocent human being."
- Herbster has been accused of groping by eight women, which he denies.
Former President Donald Trump defended Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, who has denied accusations that he groped several women.
Speaking at a rally in Nebraska on Sunday April 1, Trump said that Herbster was "the most innocent human being."
"He's been badly maligned and it's a shame. That's why I came out here," Trump said at the rally.
"I have to defend my friends, I have to defend people that are good. He was with us from the beginning… He's been my friend for 30 years, he's the most innocent human being, he's the last person to do any of this stuff."
—Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) May 1, 2022
Charles Herbster has been accused by eight women of inappropriately touching them, according to a report from the Nebraska Examiner. Many said they had been groped during a 2019 Republican fundraiser in Douglas County, Nebraska.
Two of the women have come forward publicly — state Sen. Julie Slama and Elizabeth Todsen, an employee of State Sen. Dave Murman. Three other people have gone on the record corroborating the allegations.
In a press release previously sent to Insider, Herbster — CEO and president of Carico Farms and Herbster Angus Farms — denied all the allegations.
"Charles W. Herbster has already filed legal action against one of the people named in reports and will be taking legal action against others," the release said. "He will not stop fighting until his name is cleared and he is vindicated."
Speaking at the rally, Trump said the accusations against Herbert were "unfair" and designed to "derail him long enough that the election can go by before the proper defense can be put forward."
Herbster himself spoke at the rally, spending a portion of his speech promising to take sex education "out of the schools and put it back in the homes where it belongs."
The GOP gubernatorial primary in Nebraska is due to take place on May 10, and will be one of many upcoming tests of the former president's continued power in the party.
Trump has endorsed more than a hundred candidates for various positions. Upcoming primaries in several competitive House, Senate, and governor's races will test his reputation as the Republican kingmaker.
Trump endorsed Ohio congressional candidate Max Miller, who has denied allegations reported by Politico in July 2021 that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
Trump has also endorsed Monica De La Cruz for her congressional run in Texas. De La Cruz has denied accusations made by her ex-husband and reported by The Washington Post that she physically and verbally abused her teenage stepdaughter.
Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least 26 women since the 1970s. He has repeatedly denied the accusations, denouncing his accusers as "liars."