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Cain Addresses Sexual Harassment Allegations

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    GOP candidate joins 'Special Report' All-Star panel

  • Duration 7:53
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This transcript is automatically generated

We are starting our panel a little early tonight with our -- seat segment.

Featuring Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain tonight's panel Steve Hayes senior writer for the weekly standard AB Stoddard associate editor of the hill.

And of course syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer mr.

-- thank you very much for being -- my pleasure thank you it's been a busy week -- you've been dealing with.

These allegations yes and you've talked.

Really a lot about them in various interviews so far this story has developed into more of a process story.

Then a substance story right however tonight the Washington Post is moving a story.

That says that.

One of the accusers.

Wants to tell her side of the story but is barred by confidentiality agreement according to her -- show.

I guess the question is will you call for the National Restaurant Association.

To waive the details of this agreement so the women involved can -- freely about the events as they rose.

I can't answer that now.

-- because there are legal implications.

If the restaurant association ways that.

We I just found out about this today there are legal implications associated with that that I'm not -- familiar with yet so I can't give you definitive -- that.

Until we consult will.

Our legal attorneys and also talked to.

You know some of -- we can't ask that right now this is -- I guess along those lines are you certain debt over the past couple of days in the way that you've answered questions about this.

That you haven't already violated the terms of that confidentiality agreement for those went absolutely.

Because I never used the name.

One of them I didn't even know the name.

And the one that that was familiar -- I never mention the person's name whatsoever so I don't believe that I am on the questions of process -- yes.

-- of yesterday.

Early in the day you say that you were not aware of any settlement.

Later in the day on the Greta show you were aware the settlements you actually went into some detail about the nature of this happened.

Had to explain that contradictions.

The -- -- explain that contradiction because when I first heard the words settlement -- felt legal settlement.

And my recollection.

Early in my recollection later it was that that was an olive Green made it so -- made.

An assumption about the worst settlement that illegal and I.

Did think that that was a legal settlement but an -- -- Remember this happened we have years ago and so all day in the -- my regular schedule I'm trying to piece that the -- the -- -- the governor.

And so as I indicated -- -- today.

The best recollection of what happened was represented on Greta didn't intend to contradict myself.

It's just been difficult track to recollect many of the pieces that happened twelve years ago but -- Both in the morning and on the -- show.

-- use the word settlement.

And they have been many people who say you know the reason -- Europe candidacy so attractive because you're not a politician.

You learn a guy who dances around words you can shoot straight.

And when you make a distinction between a settlement in agreement it sounds like.

It sounds -- -- it sounds like you're explaining well it depends what the word is itself.

How -- came in depth parsing words and to -- clintonian realistic.

Well.

It wasn't intended to be clintonian.

It was simply.

Use -- a word agreed that which in business organization that I have Ron.

Whenever there has been.

And employees leaving twelve voluntarily or involuntarily.

We would generally Carl -- Anne of Green -- So bet most perspective from which I got around to that after trying to -- call what was happening twelve years ago maybe it.

OKMR -- this story was not an ambush she did have almost two weeks.

I'm in which to formulate your response but you find yourself in this public relations disaster and I'm interested in what you blame it on his of the poor memory.

A lack of political experience or lack of staff.

What is your answer for why you're answering all these questions about all these conflicting responses when you had time to prepare want.

Well let's go back to -- Ten days ago we made a conscious decision.

We're not gonna chase a -- almost accusations.

Secondly we didn't know what was going to be in that report we work.

Given -- heads -- that they were thinking about really.

We're release on the story.

But you don't go this is something we don't know what you try to -- fan and -- We we could have been better prepare absolutely agree we could have been better prepared.

And in the future we probably will be so you know New Coke belonged not been done for.

Apparently not informed as they were to allegations.

Of harassment against him but when you were originally contacted about the story we -- -- -- the -- Yes but we -- the best decision.

But I'm army says the candidate and the CEO of the McCain campaign.

I was the one who make the final decision we are not vulnerable -- -- anonymous accusations.

We ask you if you're if you're happy that the way that the National Restaurant Association has handled -- you've had these.

Allegations you say that they're not that their baseless that they -- true on the substance on it.

And yet there was the settlement are you happy with the way that this was handled by the association yes I am because having been in the past chairman of the -- -- And having been the CEO of associations at the time.

The one allegation that I know of the memo also say if I wasn't even aware of a second allegation.

The one allegation that I was aware of yes it was handled.

In the course of normal employee relations when an employee -- best -- It was not considered the big deal because we -- got into legal spat when -- -- like that.

Mr.

-- win that Clarence Thomas.

Was very near to achieving a position -- high authority was hit whether.

Sexual harassment charge you contending for the presidency in the office of the highest authority leading in the post Republican nomination.

All of a sudden get in the sexual harassment charge do you think that race.

From being -- strong black conservative.

As anything.

To do with the fact that you've -- so we charge and if so.

Do you have any evidence to support.

I believe -- -- -- is yes.

But we do not have any evidence to support it.

But because I am an unconventional candidate.

Run in an unconventional campaign.

And -- in some unexpected.

Unconventional results in terms amount that the poll.

We believe that.

Yes there are some.

People who are Democrats notables who do not want to see me win the nomination.

And that could be some people on the right who don't want to see me because I'm not the quote on quote establishment candidate no evidence.

But does race have any part of that establishment.

Maverick he -- what about race.

Relative to the left I believe that -- -- -- Bigger drive -- I don't think it's a driving factor on the right this is just based upon -- speculation.

Last thing on this topic and we're going to move on to domestic issues foreign policy yes you were asked specifically that one of the few details not original political Geddes was whether you asked one of these women.

To a hotel room.

That was one of the allegations it was in that piece you said the PBS last night I absolutely do not call I have no recollection of that.

If you you knew that these were the only two allegations.

That.

Do you have are you sure they hadn't done that if I am sure I hadn't done that.

Absolutely issue.

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