Walker acknowledges sending $700 check to woman who alleges he paid for abortion but denies it was for that purpose
By Gregory Krieg, CNN
(CNN) - Republican Georgia Senate nominee Herschel Walker acknowledged in a new interview that he sent a $700 check to a woman who alleges the money was provided to reimburse her for an abortion, though Walker denies the check was for that purpose.
In an interview with NBC News that aired Monday morning, Walker was presented with a copy of the check, along with a receipt from the medical center in Georgia where the woman had the procedure.
"It doesn't matter whether it's my signature or not," Walker said, before examining the document with reading glasses on and concluding, "Yes, that's my check."
When first shown the check, Walker said it wasn't relevant and suggested that, because he and the woman had a child together, the money wasn't necessarily meant for what she is alleging.
"This is still a lie, because she's the mother of my child," Walker said. "I have no idea what that could be for."
The mother of one of Walker's children came forward initially to The Daily Beast and later to other outlets alleging that Walker paid for her abortion in 2009 and urged her to have a second one, which she declined. Walker has vehemently denied the allegations from the woman, who has remained anonymous. CNN has not independently confirmed the woman's allegations.
Walker's bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is one of the closest and most critical Senate races in the country, as Republicans seek to win back control of the body, which is currently split 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote. The Georgia campaign has been dominated for two weeks by allegations that Walker paid for a woman's abortion and encouraged her to have another one.
Early voting begins on Monday in Georgia.
A survey released by Quinnipiac University earlier this month, and conducted after the allegations emerged, found Warnock with 52% support among likely voters to 45% for Walker, about the same as in a poll from mid-September.
Walker also told NBC News that former President Donald Trump called him after the candidate's debate with Warnock. Asked whether Trump would come to Georgia to campaign with him ahead of the November election, Walker demurred.
"Oh, if I needed him, he'll come," Walker said.
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