Herman Cain denies sexual harassment claims

Republican frontrunner Herman Cain on "Face the Nation" on October 30, 2011. / CBS News

WASHINGTON - Republican candidate Herman Cain is denying a report claiming he was repeatedly accused of sexual harassment.

In a statement Sunday night, Cain's campaign said a media report that Cain was accused of sexual harassment at least twice during his tenure as the head of the National Restaurant Association isn't true and represents unfair attacks.

Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon said the political press was "dredging up thinly sourced allegations" from Cain's tenure leading the trade group in the 1990s. Gordon said the report includes "unsubstantiated personal attacks" and said the press is "casting aspersions on his character and spreading rumors that never stood up to the facts."

Asked if Cain's campaign was denying the report, Gordon said, "Yes."

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The allegations were first reported by the website Politico.

In its report, Politico writes that two women at the National Restaurant Association "complained of sexually suggestive behavior by Cain that made them angry and uncomfortable, (Politico's) sources said, and they signed agreements with the restaurant group that gave them financial payouts to leave the association. The agreements also included language that bars the women from talking about their departures."

The Cain campaign denial claimed the report was produced by "Inside the Beltway media." The statement, issued by Gordon, never directly denies the allegations.

"Since Washington establishment critics haven't had much luck in attacking Mr. Cain's ideas to fix a bad economy and create jobs, they are trying to attack him in any way they can," the statement continues.

The report and the Cain campaign's allegation of a Washington conspiracy against him comes on the eve of a week that the surging GOP contender planned to spend in the nation's capital. His schedule suggests he is hoping to win over some of the city's establishment. On Monday morning, he is scheduled to speak at the American Enterprise Institute, followed by a midday speech at the National Press Club. On Wednesday, Cain is planning to meet with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Cain himself did not directly confront the allegations when confronted Sunday by Politico reporter Jonathan Martin outside the CBS Washington bureau, where Cain had just appeared on Face the Nation.

"I'm not gonna comment about two people that you won't tell me who they are. That's like negotiating -- ," Cain said, abruptly stopping himself mid-sentence. "I am not gonna comment on that, because you know, I think that that is one of those kinds of things that, until you look --," he said, again stopping himself mid-sentence. After being asked several times by Martin if he has ever been accused of sexual harassment Cain ended the exchange with a question of his own: "Have you ever been accused of sexual harassment?"

Most former board member of the National Restaurant Association told Politico they remembered his tenure there fondly, and claim he left on good terms.

[Lindag10]

In my experience sexual misconduct DOES not follow political lines. Whenever someone is in a position of power and/or fame sexual misconduct is likely to take place. Whenever someone rises to promenience as Cain has, scrunity is going to reveal things that the person thinks have been long forgotten.

[cloopy]

the cain phenomenom has been overated,so now cain is the big winner in the des moines poll sat,but realisticall?it was a 400 person phone poll,cain got 23% of the vote,so aprox 100 people picked cain,but 300 did not,to much creedance is placed on these small polls,cain will surely deny/walk back or claim he was kidding regarding the harrasment issue,cain cotinually refuses to address his constant verbal gaffs,he gets arrogant as hell,also cain constantly refers to himself in the 3rd person,hes always sayin.....herman cain this herman cain that,isnt that a sign of being nuts? ginrich,smartest,wins all debates,and speaker gingrich ran the show during clinton presidency,we need to look at the legislative record,cain has none!!!!!

[unclebernies]

Cain the lobbyist will be exposed eventually by the mainstream media. The Koch brothers have this man in their back pocket and he is a digusting individual for taking thier blood money.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

Well, there was something about this guy who reminded me of Clarence Thomas. Of course, in America you are not guilty until proven innocent, but it was sure obvious to me that Anita Hill was telling it like it was. I think this brings home what republican leadership really is and has been for a few decades at least. Nixon and Agnew are no longer exceptions. People need to realize that in voting, it is not about beliefs and values. It is hiring someone for a job. We need to vote for the most competent leader, not someone who spouts religion and phony morals. It is against the law to consider these things when hiring someone for a job, we need to make it the same for political office.

[Progress4USA]

by bmallen3 October 31, 2011 9:32 AM EDT
No, unfortunately Obama was the joke and continues to be the joke.
---

Well sport...OBL and Qaddafi both found out Pres Obama wasn't joking.

[bantamei]

If he was a Democrat the right wojld already have him convicted.

[Progress4USA]

See folks, to Herman...there's a very fine line between sexual harrasment and "just joking"...lighten up America. 9-9-9 is just a joke! Electric fences are just a joke! Pro-choice is just a good joke... This a a funny guy!!!!!

[bcpats]

Allegations by two unidentified females with non-specific details, other than something that happened 20 years ago made them feel 'uncomfortable'.

Whoever is dredging up the mud will only dirty themselves, eventually.

[doneinone]

Bill Clinton raped a woman and left her bloodied in a hotel room and gets a pass........unbelievable!!!

[bantamei]

If Cain was a Democrat you would already have him cionvicted, and you seem to forget that the vast majority of sexual scandalsinvolve cosnervatives. Thomas commits sexual harassament and he is made a Supreme Court justice. Unbelievable!!!

[RealiteBites]

Clarence Thomas 2.0

[JV1970]

This trick didn't work in the Clarence Thomas case and it won't work now. Clarence Thomas was still admitted to the Supreme Court.