Herman Cain’s two publicly named accusers will appear at a joint news conference to discuss their sexual harassment complaints against the Republican presidential contender, whose image has suffered because of the scandal but who remains at the top of the polls.
A lawyer for a Karen Kraushaar, who identifies herself as a victim of Cain’s alleged sexual misconduct, told The Washington Examiner on Wednesday that he would try to include two other women who accused Cain of making unwanted advances but who, for now, remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, Kraushaar, 55, will appear with Sharon Bialek, 50, the Chicago woman who on Monday accused Cain of putting his hand up her skirt and trying to force her head to his lap while they sat in a car on a D.C. street 15 years ago.
“We know my client and Sharon Bialek are certain, but we don’t know about the other two yet,” Kraushaar’s attorney, Joel Bennett, told The Examiner.
Bennett said the news conference “could be any time now” in Washington.
Cain, meanwhile, has strongly denied the women’s claims and is going on the offensive against his accusers, questioning the motivation behind their charges.
Kraushaar, who received a five-figure payout and then left the National Restaurant Association after accusing Cain of sexual harassment, filed a complaint at a second job three years later, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
In the second instance, Kraushaar was working at the Immigration and Naturalization Service and complained she was being treated unfairly after her request to work at home after a car accident was denied. She had also complained about a suggestive email that circulated around her office, the AP reported.
Bialek has filed twice for bankruptcy, has debt problems and is out of work. Though she denies seeking financial gain, she hasn’t ruled out selling her story.
“There have been a number of interesting revelations that the public has learned about these women over the past few days,” Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon told The Examiner. “We hope the court of public opinion will take this into consideration as these women continue to try and keep this story alive.”
Cain, in a news conference Tuesday, said the restaurant association determined “there was no legal basis” for Kraushaar’s harassment complaint against him, even though she was paid a year’s salary when she left the organization. Cain said he did not know Bialek, who claimed Cain had acted inappropriately when she asked him for career advice.
Kraushaar said Wednesday that the charges she leveled “were not baseless and a settlement was deemed appropriate.” She said she couldn’t provide details of the incident until the restaurant association releases her from a confidentiality agreement that was part of the settlement.
Cain has managed to remain atop national polls, virtually tied with Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who many Republicans believe stands the best chance of winning the GOP nomination.
Many Cain supporters insist the accusations are false, though recent polling shows Cain’s support deteriorating among Republican voters since the harassment allegations arose.
“There’s a kind of suspense in the air,” said Rutgers University political science professor Ross Baker. “Two shoes have dropped but there are a lot more in that closet than one pair of shoes. I suspect we are going to hear more allegations.”
