Fourth woman accuses Cain of harassment

November 09, 2011 01:44 am | Updated 01:44 am IST - Washington:

Herman Cain, leading candidate in the race for Republican presidential nominee and former CEO of Godfather Pizza Company, tasted a different kind of baked dish this week — humble pie.

After issuing stout denials in the face of sexual harassment accusations by three women in the last few weeks Mr. Cain was embarrassed into facing down a fourth woman's claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour, and this time his accuser identified herself publicly.

The woman in question, Sharon Bialek, is a single mother from Chicago, who had approached Mr. Cain back in 1997, in search of employment opportunities. Instead of taking her to his office, as he had suggested he would, Mr. Cain stayed with Ms. Bialek in his car, and made advances towards her, she alleged in a news conference.

Recounting the incident Ms. Bialek said, “He suddenly reached over and he put his hand on my leg, under my skirt.” She said that when he further pushed her head toward him she asked Mr. Cain what he was doing. In reply he reportedly said to her: “You want a job, don't you?”

When asked by reporters about her motives, Ms. Bialek said she was “embarrassed” by the incident and wanted to move on. Arguing that she had no financial gain in coming out, she said she had decided to do so “mostly because her 13-year-old son told her to”.

At the news conference Ms. Bialek sent Mr. Cain a message: “Just admit what you did. Admit you were inappropriate to people. And then move forward. America is in a horrible turmoil as we all know. We need a leader who can set an example which exemplifies the standards of a good person and moral character.”

Responding to earlier allegations by his third, unnamed, accuser Mr. Cain admitted that in that case the individual was given a financial settlement by the National Restaurant Association, reportedly to the tune of $45,000, after she said that Mr. Cain had made a “series of inappropriate behaviours and unwanted advances”.

While some observers say the sexual misconduct allegations could damage Mr. Cain's campaign prospects, he most recently said there was “not an ounce of truth” in the claims, and on a television show on Monday night he joked about them. He is however scheduled to hold a news conference later this week to address the issue more directly.

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