A group of Nebraska lawmakers launched the Herbster Victim Witness Legal Defense Fund Tuesday morning. The fund will provide support to those targeted in the courts by Charles Herbster for telling the truth about sexual misconduct.
State Senators Lou Ann Linehan, Joni Albrecht, Suzanne Geist, and Rita Sanders are spearheading this effort.
“Charles Herbster is trying to wield the judicial system as a weapon to silence his victims and others who have witnessed his misconduct,” the senators said in a joint statement. “Survivors of sexual assault and witnesses should be free to come forward and tell the truth. This fund will provide them the resources to do just that, countering Herbster’s attempts to intimidate and bully through the courts.”
Eight women, including State Senator Julie Slama say they were sexually assaulted or groped by Herbster at two political events dating back to 2019. Slama came forward last week and confirmed reports that she was a victim. Herbster filed a defamation lawsuit against Slama last week. She filed a counterclaim and claims damages for sexual battery Monday.
Senator Geist stated at a news conference Tuesday, “I won’t be intimidated into silence and I won’t stand for any attempt to silence survivors and witnesses of sexual assault. There is absolutely no place for these tactics in our great state. When our justice system is used to silence those who wants to tell the truth, it not only hurts survivors in this case, it also hurts the entire state. It sends a message to other survivors they shouldn’t come forward for fear the same thing will happen to them. We are here today to stand with the survivors and witnesses to give them the support they deserve. We will not allow them to be bullied into silence.”
The four senators are promoting the website, herbstervictimwitnessfund.com. Those wanting more information about the resources the fund can provide can also email HerbsterVictimWitness@protonmail.com.
The Herbster For Nebraska campaign reacted and issued this release following the news conference this morning.
This is just another attempt by the Jim Pillen campaign and Ricketts establishment machine to sling mud at Charles W. Herbster before the May 10th primary election. All four Senators have been financially supported by Governor Ricketts in the past and were early supporters of Jim Pillen. It is absolutely shameful that they would use such serious matters to push a political smear campaign.
Charles will continue to fight to expose politically-motivated lies, to clear his good name, and to focus on the issues that he will tackle as the next governor of Nebraska.