By Lisa Kellman
The National Restraunt Association paid one woman a year’s salary of $35,000 in severance pay after alleging that she was sexually harassed by Herman Cain, according to the New York Times.
Earlier this week, Politico reported that that during the 90s two female employees of the Association accused Cain, then the Director, of sexual harrasment. Cain initially claimed that he was unaware of a settlement but then said during an interview that a significantly smaller figure than initially requested by the accuser was agreed to.
Cain maintains that he was falsely accused and called the reports a “smear campaign” aimed at derailing his rising poll numbers. In a Fox News appearance Monday, he also stated that the charge may be racially motivated, but acknowledged that he had no evidence to support it.