Charles Herbster, one of the leading GOP candidates for governor who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and will be attending a Nebraska rally with Trump next week, says he has not spoken with Trump about allegations that Herbster sexually assaulted several women. 

In his first on camera comments regarding reported accusations that in early 2019 he put his hand up State Sen. Julie Slama’s dress, groped six other unnamed women and forcibly kissed another unnamed woman, Herbster also added to his claim that he’s the victim of a politically motivated conspiracy led by Gov. Pete Ricketts who has endorsed NU Regent Jim Pillen in the governor's race and has said Herbster would be a "horrible" governor.

According to Herbster who denies any of the accusations, “I certainly didn't know there was any problem with Julie Slama. We attended events together. She requested, in 2019, meetings here in my condo in Omaha, Nebraska. And we actually did meet when she was campaigning.”

Herbster says those meetings were attended by other people including former Gov. Dave Heineman.

Slama has not responded to our request for comment.

But late Wednesday, Heineman told News Channel Nebraska he wasn't at a Herbster-Slama meeting. "I did not attend any meeting involving Senator Slama and Charles W. Herbster," says the state's longest serving governor. "And the reason I didn't is I was supporting Janet Palmtag (Slama's opponent). I said it would be inappropriate and awkward because I was supporting Janet Palmtag, so I just want to set the record straight."