A pro-Trump Senate candidate known for his anti-abortion stances was doubly in turmoil on Tuesday after a media outlet revealed that he financed the voluntary termination of pregnancy of one of his ex-girlfriends and that he found himself the target of fierce criticism from his own son.
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Former American football star, Republican Herschel Walker is a candidate for one of the most disputed legislative elections in November, in the American state of Georgia.
The sexagenarian is known for having placed abortion at the heart of his campaign, speaking out many times in favor of a ban on abortions throughout the country, without exception even in cases of rape or incest.
Monday evening, the American media The Daily Beast revealed, however, that the candidate had in the past urged one of his girlfriends to have an abortion, when she became pregnant. Herschel Walker strongly rejected these accusations, calling the article a “blatant lie”.
The media claims to have collected the anonymous testimony of the athlete’s former girlfriend. In particular, she provided the journalist with the invoice from a clinic performing abortions, as well as a transfer from Herschel Walker sent to her a few days later, with a card wishing her a “good recovery”.
Former US President Donald Trump denounced the accusations on Tuesday, saying the “fake news media” and the Democrats were trying to “destroy the life of a man who has a very promising future”.
Herschel Walker has announced that he will sue for defamation.
In a series of messages and videos posted on Twitter, however, his son, Christian Walker, accused the candidate of hypocrisy.
“Don’t act like you’re this great moral figure,” he told his father. With you, “everything has been lies,” he denounced in a video Tuesday morning.
“I love my son no matter what,” Herschel Walker replied on Twitter.
Herschel Walker’s campaign had already been splashed by several scandals, including accusations of domestic violence. The candidate was also forced to admit that he had had three children out of wedlock.