Topline
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 upon his entering the race in August 2021.
Georgia Republican Senatorial candidate Herschel Walker has drawn criticism for allegedly paying for … [+]
Timeline
A friend of Walker’s ex-wife claims he threatened and stalked her in Texas in 2002, according to a police report seen by CNN, throwing a wrench in the Senate candidate’s narrative of being a “family man” (Walker’s campaign declined to comment on the report).
A redacted police report seen by the Associated Press reveals another incident in 2001 when police in Irving, Texas, confiscated Walker’s handgun after his therapist called 911, saying he was “volatile,” armed, frightening his ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, and toying with the idea of “having a shootout” with police (Walker denied he had ever been abusive toward Grossman in an interview with NBC News).
Another woman, Walker’s ex-girlfriend (whose name has not been made public), claims he threatened to kill her after she tried to break up with him in 2012, allegedly telling her that 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 spokesperson told the outlet the claims are false).
In a bombshell Daily Beast report, Walker’s ex-girlfriend alleges the hardline anti-abortion candidate—who has expressed support for a nationwide abortion ban at 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape, incest or risk to the mother—paid her $700 for an abortion in 2009, allegedly telling her it wasn’t the “right time” for him to have a child (Walker fiercely denies the report in a Twitter post, arguing the claim was a “hatchet job from a Democrat activist,” and threatening to file a defamation suit against the Daily Beast for reporting it).
Later that day, one of Walker’s sons, popular conservative social media star Christian Walker, slams his dad in a video diatribe posted on Twitter, accusing him of committing “atrocities” against his mom, and arguing he was an absent father to each of his 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, although she refused the second time around, giving birth to one of Walker’s four children (Walker’s campaign declined to comment on the allegations to Forbes).
Walker comes under fire again after briefly pulling out a “prop” police badge in a debate against incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, saying he’s “never pretended to be a police officer” and claiming the badge is real—even though there is no record of him ever working with law enforcement (Walker had attended training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 1989, although there is no evidence he worked with the agency, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported).
Contra
Walker, a former NFL running back and Heisman Award winner with the University of Georgia, has admitted to a history of domestic violence, telling Axios last December he is “accountable” for his actions, which he blamed on his mental health issues. He also told Axios he’s recovered from issues, saying he’s “better now than 99%” of Americans. He also addressed his history of mental health in a recent campaign ad, saying “by the grace of God, I’ve overcome it.”
Surprising Fact
Recent polling has been mixed. Walker, who was once neck-and-neck with Warnock, tumbled after the abortion scandal broke earlier this month, with a Survey USA poll released October 5 pegging him 12 points behind Warnock among likely Georgia voters (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 survey released in August found Walker ahead 46% to 44%. Both parties have been keeping a close eye on the Senate race, one of a handful that could determine who controls the chamber, which is locked in a 50-50 tie, with Vice President Kamala Harris acting as the tie-breaking vote.
Tangent
Despite the recent scandals, major Republican officials have stood by the Trump-endorsed candidate. In a statement earlier this month, Republican Senate Committee Chair, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), said he supports Walker and “Georgians will stand with him, too.” GOP super PAC Senate Leadership Fund leader Steven Law said Walker would “make things better.”
Further Reading
Herschel Walker Acknowledges He Gave Ex $700 Check—But Has ‘No Idea’ What For (Forbes)
Herschel Walker ‘Prop’ Badge: Candidate Has Long Record Of Claiming To Be A Cop (He’s Not) (Forbes)
Herschel Walker Tumbles In Georgia Senate Poll As Scandals Mount (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/10/22/the-herschel-walker-scandals-a-guide-to-the-abortion-and-domestic-violence-allegations-that-have-roiled-the-campaign/