Trump goes all in for candidate accused of sexual assault - POLITICO

Link CopiedFormer President Donald Trump’s aides earlier this month told him about explosive allegations: That Charles Herbster, his endorsed candidate in the Nebraska governor’s race and a longtime top donor and ally, had sexually assaulted eight women.But Trump did not withdraw his support for Herbster, or scrap plans to hold a Friday evening rally for the candidate in Nebraska. Nebraska Republicans say that despite Trump’s early involvement, the race for the Republican nomination on May 10 is a three-way dead heat between Herbster and two other candidates, multimillionaire hog farmer Jim Pillen and state Sen. Brett Lindstrom.“It’s neck-and-neck-and-neck,” said Ryan Horn, a Nebraska-based Republican strategist.One measure of Trump’s devotion to Herbster: He is the only local candidate Trump is expected to voice support for at the Friday event, unlike many past Trump rallies, which he has used to boost multiple contenders. But when something is imperfect, many people … flee, and he’s not that type of person.”Matt Schlapp, a high-profile Trump ally who has endorsed Herbster, and Mike Lindell, the pillow businessman and election conspiracy theorist, are among those also slated to speak at the rally, which is being held at a NASCAR racetrack halfway between Lincoln and Omaha.Despite that support, Herbster is facing aggressive opposition from the state’s term-limited Republican governor, Pete Ricketts, who has spent the last year savaging Herbster as unfit for office.