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Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker remains close in the polls with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) despite regular eruptions of negative stories about Walker’s past that began almost immediately after he entered the race. in August 2021.
Georgia Republican senatorial candidate Herschel Walker has come under fire for allegedly paying … [+]
Chronology
A friend of Walker’s ex-wife claims he threatened and harassed her in Texas in 2002, according to a police report seen by CNN, derailing the Senate candidate’s narrative of being a “family man” (Walker’s campaign declined to comment on the report).
An redacted police report seen by the Associated Press reveals another incident in 2001 when police in Irving, Texas, seized Walker’s gun after his therapist called 911, saying it was “volatile,” that he was armed, scaring his ex wife, Cindy Grossman, and playing. with the idea of ”having a shootout” with police (Walker denied ever abusing Grossman in an interview with NBC News).
Another woman, Walker’s ex-girlfriend (whose name has not been released), claims that he threatened to kill her after she tried to break up with him in 2012, allegedly telling her he would “blow her head off” and then kill himself. , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, citing police reports in Irving, Texas (Walker was never charged and a campaign spokesman told the outlet the claims are false).
In a shocking Daily Beast report, Walker’s ex-girlfriend alleges that the hard-line anti-abortion candidate, who has voiced support for a national ban on 15-week abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest or maternal endangerment, paid her $700 for an abortion. in 2009, allegedly telling him it was not the “right time” for him to have a child (Walker fiercely denies the report in a Twitter post, arguing the claim was “axe work by a Democrat activist” and threatening to file a libel lawsuit against the Daily Beast for reporting it).
Later that day, one of Walker’s sons, popular conservative social media star Christian Walker, criticizes his father in a video tirade posted on Twitter, accusing him of committing “atrocities” against his mother and arguing that he was a absent father for each of his children. four children—Walker has previously criticized absentee fathers, particularly in African-American households (Walker tweeted in response, “I LOVE my son no matter what”).
Days after the Daily Beast report, Walker’s ex-girlfriend tells the New York Times he urged her to have a second abortion in 2011, two years after she claimed he paid for her to have the procedure, though she refused the second time and gave birth to one of Walker’s four children (the campaign de Walker declined to comment on the allegations). a Forbes).
Walker comes under fire again after briefly pulling out a “prop” police badge in a debate against incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, saying he “never pretended to be a police officer” and claiming the badge is real, even though there is no no record. of him ever working with the police (Walker had attended training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 1989, although there is no evidence that he ever worked with the agency, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported).
Against
Walker, a former NFL running back and Heisman Award winner from the University of Georgia, admitted to a history of domestic violence, telling Axios last December that he is “responsible” for his actions, which he blamed on his mental health issues. . He also told Axios that he bounced back from the problems and said he is “better than 99%” of Americans now. He also addressed his mental health history in a recent campaign ad, saying “by the grace of God, I’m over it.”
amazing fact
Recent polls have been mixed. Walker, once neck-and-neck with Warnock, fell after the abortion scandal broke earlier this month, with a Survey USA poll released Oct. 5 putting him 12 points behind Warnock among likely voters. from Georgia (50% to 38%). Last week, however, an Emerson College poll found the two candidates within two percentage points of each other, with Warnock narrowly ahead 48% to 46%. An earlier Emerson poll released in August found Walker ahead 46% to 44%. Both parties have been closely watching the Senate race, one of the few that could determine who controls the chamber, which is tied 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris acting as the tiebreaker.
Tangent
Despite recent scandals, top Republican officials have supported the Trump-endorsed candidate. In a statement earlier this month, Senate Republican Committee Chairman Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said he supports Walker and “Georgians will support him, too.” GOP Super PAC Senate Leadership Fund leader Steven Law said Walker would “make things better.”
Other readings
Herschel Walker admits he gave his ex a $700 check, but “has no idea” what for (Forbes)
Herschel Walker ‘Prop’ Badge: Candidate has a long history of claiming to be a cop (he’s not) (Forbes)
Herschel Walker Falls in Georgia Senate Poll as Scandals Rise (Forbes)
