Politics

Joel Bennett: Bialek's account is "corroborating"

By Lucy Madison

November 7, 2011 / 4:51 PM EST / CBS News

Joel Bennett, an attorney for a woman who accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment while both worked at the National Restaurant Association, speaks during a news conference outside his office in Washington, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. Bennett said she complained about a "series of inappropriate behaviors" in good faith and accepted a financial agreement. — Joel Bennett, an attorney for a woman who accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment while both worked at the National Restaurant Association, speaks during a news conference outside his office in Washington, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Joel Bennett, the lawyer who represents one of two women who filed a sexual harassment claim against Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain in the 1990s, said Sharon Bialek's account of being harassed by Cain on a separate occasion "corroborates the claim" of his client, according to the New York Times.

In a Monday press conference, Sharon Bialek became the fourth woman to accuse Cain of sexual harassment, and the first to do so publicly. She said Cain was "sexually inappropriate" toward her in 1997 and described an incident in which Cain put his hand under her skirt and pushed her head toward his crotch after a dinner together. Bialek, who said she would not file a lawsuit against Cain, said he backed away after she asked him to stop.

Bennett, in an interview with the New York Times after Bialek spoke at a press conference with lawyer Gloria Allred, said Bialek's allegation sounds "very similar" to the incident his client experienced.

"It corroborates the claim," Bennett said.

Bennett would not elaborate on the specifics, but he did say: "I can say it is corroborating."

The woman Bennett represents has declined to reveal her identity or speak publicly about the allegations, but Bennett, in a Friday statement, said she "stands by the complaint that she made."

He said the woman "sees no value in revisiting" the accusations, but noted that "she would disagree with the statements [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," Bennett said in the statement. He noted, too, that multiple incidents took place "over a period of time at least a month or two."

Bennett added that someone named Sharon had left a message with him this weekend saying that she also had a complaint against Cain. The lawyer reportedly called her back and suggested she come forward, and the woman, who said she was from Chicago, had said she would consider it.

"I guess she got over her shyness," Bennett told the New York Times.