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SALT LAKE CITY -- Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday the stalking allegations against his son Nathan are without merit.
At the same time, he admitted the case that involves serious allegations against his 39-year-old son are personally difficult.
"Issues happen in families that are difficult. And unfortunately for my son, his father is the governor, which means it's all of the sudden newsworthy," Herbert said.
It's a topic that made the governor's monthly KUED news conference more personal than most.
Herbert addressed the stalking case by saying he supports and loves his son.
"There are two sides to every issue, and there are two sides to this story, too," he said. "I believe that the allegations against my son will be found to be without merit."
Nathan Herbert is accused of stalking 26-year-old Aiona Butters. She has filed a civil stalking injunction against him Herbert.
There are two sides to every issue, and there are two sides to this story, too. I believe that the allegations against my son will be found to be without merit.
–Gov. Gary Herbert
Her family says Nathan Herbert has been stalking the woman and her older sister for years. A sealed 2005 case involved Butters' older sister.
The girls' parents call the cases a "pattern of behavior."
"He just seems to know where they're going to be when, and then shows up and just constantly stares and ogles and touches himself and does different things that are, you know, frightening to a young woman," said the girls' father, Bob Weingarten.
Nathan Herbert's attorney is attempting to seal the court case, but will not comment on why.
The governor says he is staying out of the proceedings, choosing instead to support his son behind the scenes.
"I have to be a father, but I need to stand off so that someone doesn't accuse me -- and they will -- of having some sort of undue influence that changes the outcome when, unfortunately for my son, it probably heightens the scrutiny," Herbert said.
At the same time, the governor says his son is an adult and will have to handle his legal problems on his own.
On Wednesday Nathan Herbert's attorney Scott Card released a statement on behalf of his client, in part saying, "It will soon be shown in a court of law that the allegations against Mr. Nathan Herbert are malicious and false."
Nathan Herbert is scheduled to appear next in 4th District Court on Oct. 15.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
