Herbster To Skip Slama Deposition

Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles W. Herbster says will not attend a deposition on Friday in Johnson County District Court in his legal battle with State Senator Julie Slama.

Last month Herbster filed a defamation lawsuit against Slama after a Nebraska Examiner story reported sexual assault allegations against Herbster by eight women.

Herbster’s Communications Director Emily Novotny issued a statement saying “arbitrarily selecting this Friday was clearly intended to take Charles off the campaign trail just days before the May 10th primary election. Charles W. Herbster looks forward to clearing his name through the appropriate legal venues at times agreed to by both sides.”

Slama also issued a statement on Thursday. “I am appalled at Charles Herbster’s blatant disregard of Nebraska’s judicial process. Charles Herbster sexually assaulted me and then sued me for telling the truth, but now he refuses to actually show up for his own deposition. I look forward to holding Herbster accountable through the judicial process.”

Dave Lopez is the litigation counsel for Slama. “Herbster has confirmed he will not appear. Nebraska’s court rules for civil discovery provide for sanctions against parties who fail to appear at properly noticed depositions.”