Herman Cain accuser stands by complaint, won't go public

Updated 5:47 p.m. Eastern Time

The lawyer for one of the woman who received a financial settlement after alleging sexual harassment by Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain when he was head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s said Friday that the woman stands by her allegations but is choosing not to discuss them publicly.

The woman "sees no value in revisiting" the complaint, attorney Joel Bennett said, saying the woman and her husband feel it would be "extremely painful to do so."

"My client stands by the complaint that she made," said Bennett, adding that "she would disagree with the statement's [Cain has] made concerning her complaint."

"She made a complaint in good faith about a series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances from the CEO," he said.Bennett did not provide details of the allegations but did say that multiple incidents took place "over a period of time at least a month or two."

Cain has flatly denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and complained of a "witch hunt" against him. In response to the statement, Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon said, "We look forward to focusing our attention on the real issues impacting this country -- like fixing this broken economy and putting Americans back to work through our 9-9-9 Plan, as well as strengthening national security."

Bennett said the woman is not interested in "exposing herself personally...she prefers her privacy and not to be a public figure." He said she appreciates the media and public respecting her privacy.

Bennett represents one of two woman who settled with Cain over alleged sexual misconduct; the Associated Press reported that a third woman has also accused him of improper conduct. According to a report by the New York Times, Bennett's client received settlement of $35,000, though Bennett is not discussing the amount other than to say "it was a monetary settlement."

At left: Hotsheet Live: Will scandal bring down Herman Cain?

Cain has given conflicting accounts of his knowledge of the accusations and the settlements, which he first said he was unaware of before discussing them specifically.

Bennett told CBS News earlier that Cain did not sign the initial settlement agreement, and that it's conceivable that Cain didn't even know about it. He repeated that assertion Friday afternoon.

Still, he said "Mr. Cain knows the incidents that were alleged," saying they involved "very specific instances."

"If he chooses not to remember or not acknowledge those, that's his issue," he said. Bennett said the woman was married at the time of the incident, and remains married today.

The National Restaurant Association said in a statement released as Bennett was speaking that it "can confirm that more than a decade ago, in July 1999, Mr. Bennett's client filed a formal internal complaint, in accordance with the Association's existing policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment. Mr. Herman Cain disputed the allegations in the complaint. The Association and Mr. Bennett's client subsequently entered into an agreement to resolve the matter, without any admission of liability. Mr. Cain was not a party to that agreement. The agreement contains mutual confidentiality obligations."

The statement went on to say that the restaurant association had agreed to waive the confidentiality provisions if the woman wanted to discuss the allegations. Bennett said he and his client "have not asked them to lift it beyond making this statement." He also expressed concern about violating "confidentiality and non-disparagement" provisions in the agreement. 

A poll out Friday, taken after the revelations concerning sexual misconduct allegations came out, found Cain neck-and-neck with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the lead in the Republican primary.

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[bigsk8fan]

i do not blame this woman for not going public. just reading this and other news blogs, the neocons do not care about facts. neocons do not care how reprehensibly the republican leaders act. neocons' sole goal is to unelect obama. accordingly, neocons and republicans will destroy the american economy, unemploy millions of americans, and defend their own neocon tea partying sexist and racist pigs despite all reason and fact.

[annie12]

Liz Cheney said Sunday morning on Face The Nation that people are worried that Obama is driving the economy over a cliff. I beg to differ, the economy did go over the cliff while your daddy and G W Bush were in the whitehouse. Remember the DOW was down to about 6000 we were losing jobs at a rate of a half a million per month over and above the 50,000 manufacturing plants which had moved their jobs overseas during your daddy's administration. Job losses continued into 2009, but in 2010 we saw positive job creation, about 100,000 were added per month, and the DOW was back up to 12,000. No Liz I think the economy is slowly turning around under the new president.

[daddycrc100]

IF This person can get her lawyer to talk about it. Then WHY dont she get the STONES to come ouit in person.. IF she dont have the STONES to come out in person, NOT her over paid Lawyer, Then SHUT THE H_E_LL UP..

[JV1970]

I agree! And the same goes for the other two women.

[mick7744]

People are criticizing Herman Cain's handling of the sexual harassment story , but his first response was perfect...

"ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE...NONE OF IT EVER HAPPENED...NO ONE EVER BROUGHT ANY SUCH CHARGES AGAINST ME..."

After that...not so perfect or consistent...

OK...SO THERE WERE SOME CHARGES MADE...BUT THEY WERE BASELESS "

"I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY SETTLEMENT DEAL..."

"OK...SO MAYBE THEY RECEIVED TWO OR THREE MONTHS SEVERANCE PAY..." ($45K?)

and finally...


"THIS IS JUST A HIGH-TECH LYNCHING" (not very original)

Cain followed the GOP playbook precisely...

Deny...obscure...denigrate and belittle...and when all else fails, attack the accusers, whining about racism...

Right out of the Republican playbook...But something positive can come from all this sordid crap...

If $45K is "two or three months wages" at the National Restaurant Association, the solution to the present financial crisis is obvious...just have the NRA hire thousands of new employees at those salary levels and the economy will be back on its feet in no time...

[dantom39]

Thats good enough for the left stream media make charges but don,t back them up

[Lindag10]

Left stream media made charges? They reported an incident that happened. How is that "making chargess" against Cain? Try again.

[abbeylou]

hmmmm, Accuser won't face the the accused.
IS THIS RUSSIA?????? oh, we DO have a Marxist president.....hmmmm

[boot238]

Hey, was Dan Rather involved in bringing these charges to light? It seems like his kind of story.

[oneslownewsday1]

Dan Rather like all liberal journalists are hacks and he was finally brought down by reporting unsubstantiated stories like this one and trying to pass it off as the truth.

[boot238]

Herman Cain accuser stands by complaint, but won't stand by complaint.

[JV1970]

The libs are jumping on Herman Cain and they are forgetting about one of their own, John Edwards, who when he was campaigning, wanted everyone to think he was so squeaky clean and all the while he was cheating on his wife while she was dying of cancer! He couldn't even wait until she was dead and gone!

He passed himself off to the public as this loyal, clean living family man who put his wife and family first but it was all a LIE! He is the very definition of a hypocrite but the liberals still have the nerve to crucify Herman Cain!

Incidentally, before you liberals come back at me and say that John Edwards didn't run as a Christian. Yes, he did! He is a church member and claimed to be a Christian when he ran for president, all the while sleeping with his other woman in hotel rooms when he was on the road. Then she got pregnant and when the child was born he lied and said the child wasn't his!

[JV1970]

by JV1970 November 5, 2011 5:49 PM EDT


I think the reason that these women, IF they exist, don't come out publically and make their accusations is, first of all, they know they're lying and would be exposed to the world as liars, and second, they know they'd have to reveal who is behind this scandal and who is paying them!


Reply to this comment .by Riverjump November 5, 2011 5:55 PM EDT


That has to do with Sarah how, again? Good for u JV, stick w/ the women. btw.. Herm paid. sorry. Would you miss 45 or so grand? YAAAAHHH!


.by oneslownewsday November 5, 2011 5:57 PM EDT


"If" they exist? You think the settlements were fabricated?

I really find it amusing how you give any candidate a break as long as they CLAIM to be a social conservative. It's pretty amusing to watch!

That's some set of pom-poms you've got there...


.by Riverjump November 5, 2011 5:57 PM EDT


I get it now. duh. JV is of the female persuasion. (or his wife). oh.


.by oneslownewsday November 5, 2011 6:00 PM EDT


Indeed she is, River. She's a Bible-thumping social conservative - a non thinker.


.by JV1970 November 5, 2011 6:05 PM EDT


No, Riverjump, "Herm" did NOT pay them! The NRA did. "Herm" didn't even sign the agreements!


.by oneslownewsday November 5, 2011 6:08 PM EDT


How do you know it wasn't deducted from his pay, JV?


.by batighe November 5, 2011 6:09 PM EDT


OK, first of all, Cain didn't pay. The National Restaurant Association did. Cain was never a party to any agreement; the accuser's attorney, Joel Bennett admitted as much, after screaming for days about how Cain had "violated" the non-disclosure clause...until Bennett actually got a copy of the agreement and had to admit that he was wrong.

Second, a five-figure "settlement" -- if it actually was a settlement and not a severance agreement -- is a pittance. This is in line with settling a nuisance charge to avoid litigation and make someone just go away. If the NRA General Counsel's investigation had corroborated the woman's claims, she could have easily commanded six figures. One would also have expected the Board of Directors to have taken disciplinary action against Cain, or even fire him. There is no evidence that ever happened.


.by oneslownewsday November 5, 2011 6:12 PM EDT


She commanded a year's severance, which other employees didn't receive. That was how it was determined. Nothing is EVER an "easy six figures" when it comes to legal wranglings, unless one party is very, very stupid.


.by JV1970 November 5, 2011 6:23 PM EDT


oneslownewsday First of all the documents that these "women" supposedly signed were agreements, not settlement documents. Second, the NRA signed them and not Herman Cain. In fact the NRA handled it all. They didn't pay these women "settlements". They just had these women sign agreements and they cut them some checks to avoid the expense of lawsuits and attorney fees. These weren't actual settlements. The NRA just wanted to get rid of these women and shut them up. They offered the women a nominal fee and the women accepted. That's all.


.by oneslownewsday November 5, 2011 6:30 PM EDT


See? I told you how amusing you are to watch, JV! LMAO!!! you're nothing but an apologist for ANY so-called "social conservative". All they have to do is say it, and you call their opponents liars!

It really IS funny!


.by Riverjump November 5, 2011 6:33 PM EDT


"Her'ms check though, huh? Even the tight-assedb rpubs don't want this guy. brb. imb.


.by oneslownewsday November 5, 2011 6:36 PM EDT


Hey, imposter - why are you so intent on going to Hell? I thought you said you're against that sort of thing...?


.by Lindag10 November 5, 2011 6:44 PM EDT


JV you're so FOS, especially when you try to "play lawyer". NO ONE signs a "settlement" with a gag order attached as "severance pay". Please. Also I don't blame the woman involved for not wanting her name bandied around on the national news and have reporters calling your home and ringing your doorbell. Would YOU want your neighbors and co-workers to hear about this problem that was dealt with years ago? I sure wouldn't, but of course you operate in some srange world I don't understand.


.by Lindag10 November 5, 2011 7:16 PM EDT


Oops: Meant the woman wouldn't want reporters calling her home and ringing her doorbell. Same thing, I WOULDN'T want my name out there like that.

[JV1970]

Apparently none of you read batighe's comment above! He said the same thing that I said but he said it better than I did. The bottom line is Herman Cain did NOT pay those women! The NRA did. Herman Cain didn't even sign the agreements.