Herman Cain: "I don't even remember" Sharon Bialek

Republican presidential candidate and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain and Sharon Bialek

/ Getty Images

Updated: 4:20 p.m. ET

Herman Cain said Tuesday that he doesn't "remember knowing" Sharon Bialek, who yesterday became the first woman to publicly accuse Herman Cain of inappropriate sexual behavior in the past.

In an interview with ABC News/Yahoo on Tuesday, Cain reiterated his claim that he has never "acted inappropriately with anyone. Period."

"And as far as these latest charges, I don't even remember her - I reject all of those charges - how can I defend charges when I don't even remember this person by name? I don't remember that she did work at the Educational Foundation, and when I first saw her...I didn't even recognize her," Cain said of Bialek.

In a press conference Monday, Bialek accused Cain of putting his hand under her skirt and pushing her head toward his crotch after a dinner meeting in 1997, after she had been let go from the National Restaurant Association. She is the fourth woman to claim that Cain has acted inappropriately with her -- but the first to do so publicly.

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"I don't even know who this lady is," Cain said Tuesday, adding: "The big point is, I have never acted inappropriately with anyone."

Cain is scheduled to speak at a press conference in Phoenix on Tuesday , and has promised to address the allegations "head on." Earlier today, he released a statement attacking Bialek's credibility, citing previous financial difficulties and a history of filing civil law suits.

According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, Cain and Bialek were seen speaking at a Tea Party event last month. The report claims that the two "hugged each other backstage in a full embrace like old friends" before "She grabbed his arm and whispered in his left ear."

"She kept talking as he bent to listen, and he kept saying "Uh, huh. Uh, huh," the report says.

When asked, Cain asserted categorically that Bialek was lying.

"I don't know any other way to say it," he said. "I would first have to recognize who she is."

"When I first saw this lady do the press conference with Gloria Allred, I sat there trying to recall who she was and if I knew her," Cain continued. "And I am honestly telling you I can't even recall knowing her back then."

Cain said he called his wife Gloria immediately after the press conference and that she told him, "I've known you for over 40 years. That stuff doesn't even sound like you."

He said his wife was "angry" about the accusations.

"She knows that's not something that I would do," Cain said.

When asked why multiple women would lie about him having sexually harassed them, Cain pointed to "an element in this country, in our politics, that does not want to see a businessman succeed at getting the nomination from the Republican party and does not want me to succeed at becoming president of the United States of America."

He also targeted the media's reporting of the story, and said he would get "indignant" if they continued to "stalk" his family.

"Look, I know that journalists and the media, they have a job to do and they're professionals about it," Cain said. "But I will get very indignant if they continued to stalk my family, make unsolicited calls."

Bialek on Tuesday said on CBS' "The Early Show" that she came forward "because I wanted to help [Cain]. I wanted to give him a platform to come clean, to tell the truth."

In the Tuesday email, entitled, "Who is Sharon Bialek?" the Cain campaign points to what they call Bialek's "long and troubled history" as the reason she would come forward with an allegation against him 14 years after the fact.

"The fact is that Ms. Bialek has had a long and troubled history, from the courts to personal finances - which may help explain why she has come forward 14 years after an alleged incident with Mr. Cain, powered by celebrity attorney and long term Democrat donor Gloria Allred," the email says.

A new Wall Street Journal/ NBC poll shows that the percentage of people with a negative opinion of Cain has risen to from 18 percent in October to 35 percent. Among Republican primary voters, the percentage of those with a negative view of the candidate rose from 6 percent in October to 19 percent.

Still, the percentage of Republican primary voters with a positive view of Cain stayed the same at 52 percent. On top of that, the poll shows Cain is still statistically tied for first place with Mitt Romney among Republican primary voters. The poll was conducted Nov. 2 - Nov. 5; initial reports of harassment charges against Cain broke on October 30.

Addressing the charges against Cain for the first time Tuesday, Romney, in an interview with ABC News/Yahoo called the allegations "serious" and said "they're going to have to be addressed seriously."

Referencing Bialek's specific allegations, he said: "This woman's charges are particularly disturbing and they're serious."

Watch the interview below.

Stephanie Condon contributed to this report.

[rebasfla]

Why is the media asleep on this and not call Cain on his defense. He says it's obvious why all
this is happening, that some don't want him to achieve the Republican nomination. 3 of these
complaints were flied years ago, long before this Race was a twinkle in anyones eye. Like it or not, these complaints were long ago legit and like the rest of Cain's story from the beginning, this to makes no sense either.

[mack1966]

Only idiot's could fall this hype.Go Herman.

[John-_Doe]

You mean only idiots could fall for the hype that is Herman Cain. You are right. The man is a blatant liar. Look at all his statements from the moment this entire scandal started.

[noloyalisti]

Yeah, you know all those blonde white women I've been with look the same. I use them, abuse them and lose them.

[cbsnewsboy1]

Show some proof, other than that it's just political hype. His accusers are not exactly the kind of people who would make good character witnesses in a courtroom.

The Democrat machine is scared to death of a Cain / Obama debate, in which Obama shows himself, against Cain, to be as Bill Clinton said, just another "empty suit."

If Cain wins such a debate, blacks will be free at last to move across party lines. Martin Luther King would be proud of those blacks, finally leaving the plantation and becoming free thinking, self reliant individuals.

[noloyalisti]

You're kidding right. Please say this a joke you are trying to present. I think many Republicons would vote for the devil or someone completely ridiculous like Palin or Cain. Anything to keep their Top 1% captors in charge of their lives. Anything to stop their kids from having good jobs and education.

[Rob522]

CAIN What the hell....I harassed and groped so many women through the years, I can't remember them all.

[samkent122]

The liberals own the confirmed, serial rapist: BILL CLINTON -the blue dress, lying ************** -- impeached, and an historical embarrassment.

Herman Cain is a decent man that the liberals would like to draw into their gutter with their routine character assassination.

[tampaB]

what a joke; too much junk on the Cain train....oooppss he hugged this dumb trick at a teap party campaign. Oh wait..he hugged a baby..therefore what. No proof of anything therefore what....keep on bangin' the Cain makin' the Newt that much more stronger. Obanger does not want to match Newt in a campaign. Lovin' it like a McD commercial. Can't wait for the match-up between Newt and Obama...smooth talkin' is gone when you have to talk about the FACTS

[Reverend-slappy]

Cain and these women are starting to really get on my nerves!
It's like they are all cut from the same cloth like the despicable characters in a soap opera where you don't care for any of them.
No heros just losers.

I make it a policy to stay away frm off the wall people like these in fear of becoming just like them.
Cain and these women of questionable character all desrve each other.

[beamerm]

Lord, it pains us to see an ambitious republican pizza delivery boy suffer so! Make the hurt go away... amen

[gertrudematilda]

Let's see, first Mr. Cain had a memory of a little comment about height of a female employee. Out of his figure of working in an office of 150 people and being over 10+ years ago, he admits to remembering this comment? I call it like I see it, He is a sexist! 1. maybe a misunderstanding, 2. you might want to revisit your behavior, 3. you have a problem, 4. You Mr. Cain are not presidential material. You sir are more fitting to a prisoner fit for a jail cell for sexual crimes. Your wife is turning a blind eye and you sir need to walk away and leave the Republican candidate to men with class and dignity!

[tafhdyd]

First you have to name a republican candidate with class and dignity.

[USSAmerikan]

No inheritance, trust fund or any gimmes, folks:

"Despite his successes, Cain does not forget his humble beginnings. His parents, Luther Cain, Jr. and Lenora Davis Cain provided examples of hard work that he would remember the rest of his life. His father at one time worked three jobs: cutting hair in his off hours, working part-time at Coca-Cola as a chauffeur, and working an evening shift as a janitor in a bakery. His mother worked as a domestic."