Herschel Walker denies report he paid for girlfriend’s 2009 abortion
A report that Republican candidate Herschel Walker paid for his then-girlfriend’s abortion in 2009 has roiled the high-profile Georgia Senate race.
On Monday evening, had urged his girlfriend to end her pregnancy and included a signed check from Walker to cover the procedure, a receipt from the abortion clinic, a “get well” card from Walker and corroboration with friends of the women, who remained anonymous. Walker has staked out a staunchly anti-abortion position in the campaign, saying the procedure should be banned with no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the mother.
Walker disputed the Daily Beast’s report in a statement, calling it a “flat-out lie” and saying, “I’m not taking this anymore. I [am] planning to sue the Daily Beast for this defamatory lie. It will be filed tomorrow morning.” Public figures’ lawsuits against media outlets have a high bar of proof in the U.S.; it’s unclear what evidence Walker may offer in court to attempt disproving the report.
When asked about the $700 check during an appearance on Sean Hannity’s primetime Fox News show, Walker said, “I send money to a lot of people,” noting that he gives scholarships and “is always helping people.” Walker said the report was a “flat-out lie” and said it left him “energized.”