By Catalina Camia and Jackie Kucinich
USA TODAY
Joel Bennett, a lawyer for one of Herman Cain's accusers, says there was a "series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances" by Cain that led his client to file a sexual harassment claim.
Bennett issued a statement on behalf of his client, who does not wish to be identified or speak publicly.
Cain, who is leading polls for the GOP presidential nomination, has repeatedly said he was "falsely accused" of sexual harassment when he led the National Restaurant Association from 1996-1999.
BLOG: Bennett statement
In an impromptu news conference, Bennett told reporters the incidents occurred over "a month or two" but declined to say what specifically took place. He said "it qualified as sexual harassment in our opinion."
"Beyond what's in this statement she has decided not to relive the specifics of the incidents so I cannot give any further details," said. "She has made a decision that she does not want to do that."
Asked about the other two women referred to this week in news stories about Cain's alleged behavior, Bennett said: "Where there's smoke, there's fire ... more likely than not, there was some sexual harassment activity."
Bennett's statement and a separate news release from the trade group capped a remarkable week for Cain, a former CEO of Godfather's Pizza who has surged to the top of the GOP field.Politico reported on Oct. 30 that two women alleged"sexually inappropriate behavior" while working at the trade group.
The National Restaurant Association confirmed that a formal complaint was filed in July 1999. The association and Bennett's client entered into an agreement to resolve the matter "without an admission of liability," the statement says.
Cain is not a party to the agreement, which included a "monetary settlement" that Bennett did not specify. Politicoreported on Thursday the woman received $45,000.
The restaurant association said it was willing to waive the terms of its confidentiality agreement so Cain's accuser could speak publicly, beyond the statement issued by Bennett.
Bennett said his client now works for the federal government, "where she is extremely happy serving the American people to the best of her ability."
Earlier on Friday, Cain went back to campaigning and promoting his 9-9-9 tax. He alluded only briefly to the scandal, telling an Americans for Prosperity conference that he "attracted a little bit of attention" since Politico's original story about the sexual harassment allegations.
The allegations of misconduct don't seem to be making an impact with GOP voters.
Seven in 10 Republicans in a new ABC News/Washington Post survey say the allegations don't matter when it comes to picking a presidential candidate. A majority of GOP and GOP-leaning voters, or 55%, say the allegations are not a "serious matter."
But the poll, taken Oct. 31-Nov. 3, shows some challenges for Cain. Among the 39% who say the allegations are serious, half say it makes them less likely to support the businessman for president.
"If views of the seriousness of the issue were to increase, Cain's support could be at risk," ABC polling director Gary Langer writes in a memo accompanying the survey.
At his Washington appearance, Cain did allude to a New York Times story about his campaign's ties to Americans for Prosperity and its billionaire benefactors.
Cain defended his relationship with Charles and David Koch, calling himself their "brother from another mother and proud of it."
In other developments, Cain's wife reportedly will not do an interview tonight with Fox News. Gloria Cain has "apparently had a change of heart," in the words of The New York Times.
During an appearance on Sean Hannity's radio show, Herman Cain said Thursday that his wife is "200% supportive of me" both as a candidate and as her husband.
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