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Sharon Bialek, the first woman to publicly accuse Herman Cain of sexual misconduct, today acknowledged she has experienced financial and legal difficulties in recent years, but said they were “absolutely not” related to her decision to come forward and detail her encounter with Cain in a car outside a Washington hotel fourteen years ago.
But Cain’s campaign signaled today they will seek to undermine Bialek’s credibility by highlighting her legal troubles and the Democratic Party ties of her lawyer, Gloria Allred. An NBC News review of court records show that Bialek’s legal problems include two personal bankruptcies, an Internal Revenue Service tax lien, and a civil judgment against her last year for an unpaid loan that is still outstanding.
“Absolutely not,” Bialek said when asked by NBC News Today show co-anchor Ann Curry whether her financial problems caused her to come forward and make accusations against Cain in hopes of making money. “There’s no skeletons in my closet. I told her [her lawyer Gloria Allred] 'this may come up.' I expected this may come up. It's not about me. I’m not running for president.”
Bialek, a single mother with a 13-year-old son, also denied that anybody from any rival campaign encouraged her to speak out against Cain in an effort to damage his candidacy. “I came forward of my own volition,” she said. In a separate interview on CNN, she said her son did encourage her to speak out. “You need to tell on him,” she quoted her son as saying.
Bialek’s comments came just hours after Cain flatly denied her graphic account that he sexually groped her and sought to have oral sex when the two met in Washington in 1997, telling TV host Jimmy Kimmel her story was “totally fabricated.” In a statement e-mailed to reporters, Cain spokesman JD Gordon described Allred, Bialek's lawyer, as a "high profile Democratic Party donor and activist." He added: "After attacking Herman Cain through anonymous accusers for a week, his opponents have now convinced a woman with a long history of severe financial difficulties, including personal bankruptcy, to falsely accuse the Republican frontrunner of events allegedly occurring well over a decade ago for which there is no record, nor even a complaint filed." (In a press release late Tuesday morning entitled "Who is Sharon Bialek?" the campaign gave the case numbers for six civil lawsuits in which Bialek was sued as well as her two bankruptcies. It also cited a press report indicating that she has worked for nine employers over the last seventeen years).
Cain has scheduled a press conference to rebut Bialek’s claims on Tuesday, signaling that the controversy over sexual harassment allegations -- which Cain’s campaign had hoped to put to rest last week -- is unlikely to end anytime soon.
The dueling accounts underscore the difficulties in sorting through politically charged sexual harassment allegations in which partisans on both sides seek to impugn the character of the principals with whatever evidence they can find.
Bialek dramatically raised the stakes for Cain on Monday by becoming the first woman to publicly speak out. News reports last week identified three other unidentified women at the National Restaurant Association who had made unspecified sexual allegations against Cain, two of whom received financial settlements with no findings of liability. Bialek detailed an encounter that she says took place in 1997 after she was let go from her job after six months as a National Restaurant Association foundation fundraiser. Seeking Cain’s help in finding new employment or getting her job back, she described how Cain -- then the president of the National Restaurant Association -- booked her a Washington hotel suite and took her out to dinner. While the two were alone in the car, Bialek says Cain put his hand up her skirt and then sought to have oral sex, telling her, “You want a job, right?”
Allred, who frequently represents accusers in celebrity cases, told reporters on Monday that she had sworn affidavits from two others -- one from a doctor who was Bialek’s boyfriend at the time and the other from a businessman -- who affirm that Bialek told them about an encounter with Cain shortly after it took place. But Allred has declined to release their names -- making it impossible at this point to verify her account-- and Bialek acknowledged Monday that she did not share details with them of what Cain had allegedly done in the car.
Bialek also did not describe her encounter with Cain to her current boyfriend, Mark Harwood, with whom she lives in suburban Chicago. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Harwood was quoted as saying he was in “a bit of shock” when Bialek first told her about her experience with Cain last Friday night, but that he admired her decision to come forward.
“Its not an anti-political thing,” Harwood said. “It’s not a money thing. She’s just trying to do the right thing and that takes guts.”
Court records show that Bialek filed for bankruptcy in 1991 and 2001. She was also involved in protracted domestic relations litigation starting in 1999 with a marketing executive at News America Marketing, a division of News Corp., over questions of paternity and child support for her now 13 year old son. Court records show that the marketing executive was ordered to pay child support that in 2010 was $66,700 a year.
More recently, the records show, the IRS filed a tax lien of nearly $5,200 against Bialek in 2009. (According to the Chicago Tribune account, the Illinois Department of Revenue has also claimed Bialek owed the state $4,300 in unpaid taxes, penalties and interest.) Last year, an Illinois lending company filed a lawsuit against Bialek for an upaid ($3,539) loan and won a judgment against her of $3,539. The lawyer for the lender, Illinois Lending Corp., told NBC it was a standard “breach of contract” lawsuit and that the judgment is still outstanding.
Allred told reporters that Bialek has not had a job in about two years. Harwood, her boyfriend, told the Trbuine that the couple met online and moved in four years ago, getting engaged during a vacation in Venice last year.
“Sharon is very much one of these women with a huge heart and always trying to do the right thing,” he said. “Sometimes, I have to pull the reins in.”
Susan Bialek, the fourth woman to come forward and accuse GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain of sexual harassment, tells TODAY's Ann Curry why she waited 14 years to come forward and says her decision to do so was not financially motivated.
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Hey..if we can believe Herman Cain the we can believe Sharon Bialek. What's fair is fair right. Or is that...what's fair is far Right?
The man is new and probably can' post links.......This woman is a financial loser and Allred is a money poacher.
http://www.suntimes.com/8592168-417/sneed-witness-says-cain-accuser-hugged-him-during-tea-party-meeting-a-month-ago.html
Follow the money and this story will vaporize. The DMC is paying this woman for spinning a tail and when it comes out it will be a big mess.
Of course the liberals will still deny it.
Firt Cain was a racist and because that didn't stick they had to grab another handful of mud to sling.
It's definitely not the DNC. Democrats would LOVE running against Cain. They have nothing to gain by attacking his moral compass. It's more likely a leak from one of his GOP competition, which doesn't mean it's made up.
I do wonder what the Obama haters would say if Obama were to say "brotha from anotha motha."
You just don't get the fact that we liberals WANT CAIN TO WIN THE NOMINATION. It will ensure the re-election of President Obama. Cain is in now way a threat to us. Get over yourselves.
A can of Chicken Noodle Soup is a threat to Obama.
There are many, many people who would vote for an inanimate object against him. Reality says BHO wants to run against Romney. If Romney were the candidate, the who healthcare issue is off the table and BHO does not wish to defend this.
But whent he primaries start, we conservatives will pick our own candidate this time. It is the first time we dont have to worry about their electability. Any candidate we have is electable at this point.
Because at the end of the day, BHO has a history now, and it isnt pretty.
ABO 2012
The Democrats are sitting back, watching in rapt fascination, while the Republicans/Tea Partiers eat each other alive.
Politico (Karl Rove) released the story, after giving Cain ten days to respond. He didn't. Instead, he blamed Perry and demanded an apology from him. Perry denied it and blamed Romney. Who, of course, denied it. In the meantime, Bachmann is lashing out at everyone else and declaring that God has called her to be President.
It's like a really gruesome train-wreck -- too horrible and fascinating to look away from.
In the interview this morning she was asked how she knew to call Gloria. She said that her past boyfriend - the one she said that she told "something" had happened but had not given him the details back in 1997 - called her up out of the blue last week and recommended she call Gloria. I think it would be interesting to know who he is. Is he politically connected - either on the right or the left? Notice Gloria refused to release those "affidavits" signed by this past boyfriend and someone else - and refused again in interviews this morning to say who these two men are.
On another note.......It looks like Seal Team Six ain't big Obama supporters.
According to a press release, the book takes "readers on the helicopter flight over the wall that leads deep into the terrorist lair and describing what it looked, sounded and smelled like as the bullets flew."
The book also takes issue with the Obama administration's characterization of the mission.
"In a hasty effort to claim victory and make political haste, administration aides changed their stories several times," the release said. "Their leaks made SEAL Team Six look ineffective and clumsy
But Obama definitely made sure that he looked good, nothing new here it's always all about Obama
Here's how you find out if this story has legs,see if Herman invites it up to his hotel room !!
I love how all the righties keep bringing up Clinton. That is doing exactly what you are complaining others are doing to Heman now. Clinton didn't do anything !!! Herman just misunderstood this blonde chick,she said "don't put your mitts on me" and he thought she said "do me like Mitt romney" so he grabbed the back of her head and her crotch and was going to try to flip flop her.
Hermie's toast. His integrity cannot be reclaimed after walking back this story so many times.
What makes you think repugnican sheeple care if a candidate of theirs has any integrity??
The delusional fox followers will do anything the money tells them to do. They have a deeply ingrained personal prophecy that they will be in the 1% some day......by lying and believing lies. It is astounding.
One of Cain's accusers apparently got a pay out but signed neither a non-disclosure agreement nor a 'hold harmless' release. It would be interesting to see what she has to say.
Please, Herman Cain practically called her the B-word before he caught himself before he said it. While I'm not a fan of Gloria Allred, as I see her as nothing more than an opportunist, I don't believe Herman Cain either. I think these women claiming sexual harassment are the real thing and that Cain is just trying to discredit him because of how it's impacting his hid for election.
Herman Cain is NOT the right example for a leader of our country, who must be above reproach. There are just too many questions about Cain's past and these sexual harassment claims are not what I would call endearing qualities.
Agreed, Cain's reaction is very bullying, so making a leap that he would bully or coerce in a sexaul way just doesn't seem like a reach. His willingness to label someone who was under a secrecy clause a "...sub par employee..." basically told me everything I need to know about his idea of fairness and his ability to rise above. AND he did all of this after more than 10 days to reflect on a public stance. Not presidential and certainly not leadership. But I DO hope he wins the nom.
For everyone out there blaming dems for this high tech lynching,...you really should look at Perry and Romney or even deeper at Karl Rove. The establishment KNOWS they can not win the moderates with a Teapublican. It simply WILL NOT happen. And they are determined to ensure that a Teapublican does NOT win the nomination.
Cain should file suit for defamation right now and expidite the court proceedings so that this comes to a head before the primaries. Let get some of these people on the stand facing a perjury charge if they lie.
I saw cain on fox news and said he believe perry leaked this?
Damn liberal media and nutty repubs, always trying to put the "Black Man Down"
And if their not ??? I'm sorry but as the # of women grows it becomes more obvious that this guy is a hound. But that won't stop me for voting for him if he has the right tools,but if he doesn't know that China has nukes and Uzbekistan is an important location in the war in Afghanistan,now that scares me,and more importantly,he definitely can not handle a crisis.
Cain is a good choice for the republicans, I hope he keeps up the good work.
Is this a great country or what. File bankruptcy and go on vacation to Venice. Tell that to the Occupiers.....
From most of the posting that I have read it doesn't seem like the general public much believe this woman. Perhaps the media has thrown too many mud pies and none of it will stick anymore.
Cry wolf anyone.
Watch out defending this woman, liberals. remember; she's supposedly a Republican. But then again, you people always love a whistle blower...unless, of course, it's Linda Tripp. Then you hate a whistle blower. Funny how that works, huh?
Oh well. I'd rather have Herman Cain groping a couple chicks he works with than what we have now: Barack Hussein Obama SODOMIZING the whole nation before our eyes.
...and you deserve Herman Cain.
So sexual assault is OK with you? That's all I'm getting from this. We're talking criminal felony, not just harassment.
Herman Cain should be the one SCREW-TINIZED.
This is easy to track. She said that he up graded her hotel. I am sure the Hotel has a record ... about what kind of room she got and who did the up grade. Come on you guys figure it out. That will begin to tell us who is lieing
I saw cain give a interview to a fox reporter and said he believe perry spilled the beans. I guess the rock on perry's land is a warning to cain??
You do know that the land is not Perry's land right? And that the rock was removed a few decades ago by the land owner, right?
Who cares!
Since nobody cares about the truth, it's all about the bling story!
have you checkedout msnbc and fox news lately???
"Crazy Cain" is only emotionally disturbed! He is a sexual pervert, and may have sexually assaulted this individual. His attitude is also disturbing, and his mental illness is truely profound. "Crazy Cain" has showed very gross behavior, and is not competent on the issues at all. His knowledge of Foreign Policy is very scary in a nuclear sense, and his strong connection to the Koch Brothers is very alarming. His flip-flopping on very important social issues is also very disturbing, and he has no comprehension skills on even the most obvious issues. That is fact! Getting ready to vote yet America??? I hope so!!
Progressive = Government slave
Hey Democrats!!! What are you raising so much stink about? Looks to me like you guys would welcome another Bill Clinton to the White House....Afterall, he set the bar for sexual harassment in the oval office no less......Was pasable to you back in the day, ought to be good today.............
Not to mention the desk that Bill Clinton got Monica Lewinsky on was the very desk that Gen MacArthur had Emperor of Japan sign the surrender of Japan during WW2.
What do you not understand about this. Herman Cain is an abuser, a moron who thinks it is perfectly acceptable to use fear and strong-arm tactics to get his dick sucked.
It also makes him and adulterer wanna-be, a scumbag who thinks nothing of betraying his wife, pursuing other women like a panting dog after a bitch in heat.
It's foul, absolutely vileand deeply disgusting.
Saw cain on fox news and said he believe perry leaked this?
Damn liberal media and nutty repubs, always trying to put the "Black Man Down"
Now Cain and Hussein are truly separate but equal!!
Where is Cain's wife in all of this?? Why isn't she standing by her man?? Inquiring minds wants to know!!!! Huuummm!!!!! I wonder what she knows?????
Herman was heard screaming that GLORIA caused all of this and he blames her for everything.... He meant his wife Gloria not Allred.
I think this is an example of turn about is fair play. They did this to Clinton purely for political reasons and totally distracted him for years during his presidency. I hope Karl Rove is next, but I won't hold my breath as he is just too clever.
And really,what are the chances that Carl could get a female anyway. Thats not every girls desire to have sex with Bushes brain....or any other part of him !!!
And really,what are the chances that Carl could get a female anyway. Thats not every girls desire to have sex with Bushes brain....or any other part of him !!!
If Clinton had revealed he had gotten his dick sucked in his first term, I would not have voted for him the second time around.
If a politician betrays the one person he or she is most intiimately connected to in trust and so-called love....then explain why I should trust that politician.
“Its not an anti-political thing,” Harwood said. “It’s not a money thing.
Pleeeeeeeeeease, Do you think the American people are idiots? And why was she pursuing Mr. Cain for a job. Why was she in the car with Mr. Cain? Sounds like she was willing to put him in that position because she needed a job. Watch her money problems suddenly disapprear
The witch was wearing a skirt to a business meeting. She deserved everything she got. Where was her burka? Everyone knows that men can't control themselves when looking at a woman's face or ankles, so here you have one in a skirt and she is surprised she was hit on!!!
This dress and skirt wearing has to STOP NOW! Women should be in burkas, not allowed to drive--no funny comments here, this is satire--and stay pregnent and in the kitchen or scrubbing the floors! You hear that, Ms. Broader, head of WalMart, Ms. Craig, head of Ford in Canada, and Ms. Bellissimo, head of State Farm?? How DARE you try to be successful and run a company? If you wear a dress, you are ASKING FOR IT!! And Herman, or any other man, has a RIGHT to give it to you. Crazy women! How dare they tempt men with their feminine charms?? It is all their fault and they must be punished!
This is the GOP:
Hermmie is a find up standing citizen. Person 1 - Hermmie sexual harassed me.
Hermmie is a find up standing citizen. Person 2 - Hermmie sexual harassed me.
Hermmie is a find up standing citizen. Person 3 - Hermmie sexual harassed me.
Hermmie is a find up standing citizen. Person 4 - Hermmie sexual harassed me.
Well dam Hermmie when are you going to stop grabbing women asses?