The Los Angeles Times reported this story (on page AA2) with the headline, “Cain Denies Harassment Accusations,” but that is not accurate. According to right-leaning Politico.com, the outlet that broke the story, Cain has passed up multiple opportunities to deny the charges:
Herman Cain’s campaign issued a lengthy statement Sunday night attacking – but not directly denying — POLITICO’s report that at least two women had accused the GOP presidential candidate of inappropriate behavior during his tenure as head of the National Restaurant Association.
And in a phone interview with Fox News, Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon repeatedly evaded questions about whether the trade group made payments to two female employees who expressed discomfort with Cain’s actions.
“All I’m telling you right now is, this is something the establishment is trying to attack Mr. Cain on,” Gordon said. Pressed by host Geraldo Rivera as to whether there had been any cash settlements, Gordon said: “You’d have to get that from the National Restaurant Association.”
Gordon told the Associated Press Sunday evening that the campaign was flat-out denying POLITICO’s story. But the campaign has not responded to the substance of the report in any detail.
Earlier Sunday, Cain repeatedly declined to answer several direct questions from POLITICO about the allegations, and the campaign’s first statement on the story did not include a denial.
The next few days should be real interesting, as the real stories will be coming out. One woman received around $35,000 and even if she has to return it for violating her confidentiality agreement, she’ll easily get much more for her story. The attorney for the second woman is itching to talk and it’s just a matter of time.
Ole Herm will be feeling that electrified fence himself.