Cain Says He's Willing To Take Lie Detector Test As Second Accuser Comes Forward
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (CBS) — Developments continue in the ongoing sexual harassment saga involving presidential candidate and GOP front runner Herman Cain.
Tuesday Cain held a news conference in Arizona and repeatedly and unequivocally denied charges that he sexually harassed four women in the 1990's.
"I have never acted inappropriately with anyone, period," said Cain. "The charges and the accusations, I absolutely reject. They simply didn't happen."
Cain responded directly to the latest in a string of allegations, calling claims made by Sharon Bialek "baseless, bogus, and false."
Bialek appeared with attorney Gloria Allred at a news conference Monday to accuse Cain of making unwanted physical advances during an incident in 1997 in Washington D.C.
Cain says he watched Bialek's news conference in disbelief. "My first response in my mind, and my reaction was, I don't even know who this woman is," said Cain. "I didn't recognize the name at all."
Cain insists he is the victim of a smear campaign, and when pressed said he would submit to a lie detector test.
In an email to reporters, the Cain campaign highlighted Bialek's troubled history, listing half a dozen lawsuits against Bialek, two bankruptcy filings confirmed by CBS News, an eviction, and a paternity suit, which she won.
Bialek said on CBS' "The Early Show" Tuesday her accusations against Cain are motivated by a desire to help him. "I wanted to give him a platform to come clean, to tell the truth," said Bialek. "I have so much to lose, but really nothing to gain."
In further developments Tuesday, one of Cain's previously anonymous accusers, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Treasury Inspector General's office confirmed she did file a complaint against Cain when they both worked at the National Restaurant Association.
55-year-old Karen Kraushaar says she plans to hold a news conference and is asking other Cain accusers to appear with her.
Cain says he remembers the Kraushaar incident, but despite having reached a cash settlement with the woman, insists her accusations were found to be baseless.
