Herschel Walker's Abortion Story Was No Secret

The team for Herschel Walker, the Georgia Republican and former NFL player running for a Senate seat, reportedly had quite some time to prepare for the news that broke Monday alleging Walker paid for an ex-girlfriend's abortion. Sources tell Politico the team was made aware of the abortion issue, an allegation that is reportedly "well known" in Georgia, months ago, but that the team downplayed it in the hopes that it wouldn't come out publicly prior to the November election. Top Georgia Republicans, however, reportedly warned Walker it could destroy his chances of being elected if it did.

One top GOP operative in the state who spoke to Politico says that Walker's team downplayed, but, crucially, never actually denied the abortion story when discussing it and its potential ramifications. Walker, however, has publicly and vehemently denied the allegation since the story broke. Former President Trump, reaffirming his endorsement of Walker, said in a statement, "Herschel has properly denied the charges against him and I have no doubt he is correct." On Tuesday, Sean Hannity made an odd comment on Fox News about Sen. Raphael Warnock, the incumbent Democrat in the Georgia race. "There is a family conflict with Herschel Walker that has been very public, which I think is sad for any family," he told Newt Gingrich. "But there is also the same thing for Raphael Warnock." He did not elaborate, and the Daily Beast reports it's not clear what he meant. (More Herschel Walker stories.)