Cain denies claims of sexual harassment

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Denying he ever sexually harassed anyone, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain declared Monday he was falsely accused in the 1990s while he was head of the National Restaurant Association and that the allegations are surfacing now as part of a “witch hunt.”

The former pizza- company executive was responding to a Politico report that said the trade group gave financial settlements to at least two female employees who had accused Cain of inappropriate sexual behavior. He said he didn’t know whether the association provided any such settlements, and he declined to address specifics of the accusations or the resolution.

“There’s nothing else there to dig up,” he declared at the National Press Club. “We have no idea the source of this witch hunt, which is really what it is.”

He added, “This bull’s-eye on my back has gotten bigger.”

Cain said an investigation into accusations of impropriety while he was the head of the restaurant group determined they were baseless.

“I’ve never sexually harassed anyone,” he told Fox News.

In a later interview with The Associated Press, Cain was asked if he was unaware of the women’s specific allegations. “Some of them,” he responded.

When pressed, he said he was not aware of any of the allegations.

“That was 12 years ago. So no, I don’t remember,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Cain acknowledged, “I do have a sense of humor, and some people have a problem with that.” In the interview with AP, Cain said that comment did not refer to the sexual-harassment allegations.