"He said there are "legal reasons" why he can't divulge more details."
Uh.huh.
Updated 4:05 p.m. ET
A former pollster for the National Restaurant Association told an Oklahoma radio station that he witnessed an incident behind one of the sexual harassment complaints against Herman Cain.
Chris Wilson, now a political consultant in Oklahoma, told news radio station KTOK that he saw the incident, which he said occurred at a restaurant in the Washington, D.C. suburbs.
"This occurred at a restaurant in Crystal City (Virginia) and everybody was aware of it," Wilson told KTOK. "It was only a matter of time because so many people were aware of what took place, so many people were aware of her situation, the fact she left---everybody knew with the campaign that this would eventually come up."
Wilson said if the accuser is allowed speak publicly "it'll be the end" of Cain's presidential campaign. He said there are "legal reasons" why he can't divulge more details.
Our original post begins here:
As Herman Cain is dogged by a controversy surrounding allegations of sexual harassment, the presidential candidate has gotten into a testy exchange with reporters trying to cover the ongoing story.
USA TODAY's Jackie Kucinich reports that Cain took no questions from reporters this afternoon on Capitol Hill, following a speech on health care. There has been jostling among reporters, security and Cain's aides.
Cain, who is atop national polls for the GOP presidential nomination, has maintained that he was "falsely accused" by two women while he led the National Restaurant Association from 1996 to 1999. He has said repeatedly that he has never sexually harassed anyone.
The scandal, which began with a Politico report, is now in its third day. Earlier Wednesday, he got testy with reporters after giving a speech to doctors in Alexandria, Va.
"Don't even bother asking me all of these other questions that you all are curious about, OK? Don't even bother," Cain said.
He began the day speaking to business leaders at the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and made a reference to forces that are trying to "destroy" him. Cain vowed he would survive the onslaught.
"There are factions that are trying to destroy me personally as well as destroy this campaign," Cain said. "But there is a greater force at work here ... and that force is called the voice of the people."
In other developments, the attorney for one of Herman Cain's accusers told USA TODAY that his client is "unlikely" to be giving interviews anytime soon.
Joel Bennett also said his client has asked him to stop talking to the news media, after giving interviews Tuesday night in which he said Cain had been "bad-mouthing" his client.
"I stand by everything I said," Bennett said Wednesday.
He followed through on his vow to contact the National Restaurant Association, in an effort to get his client released from the confidentiality agreement that prevents her from speaking out about the circumstances that led to her departure from the trade group.
The association said it has directed Bennett to reach out to its outside counsel. "Mr. Bennett indicated that he would do so tomorrow, after he met with his client," said Sue Hensley, senior vice president of public affairs for the National Restaurant Association.
There appears to be a conflict on whether Bennett's client wants to publicly discuss her story. The Associated Press, citing an unnamed person close to the situation, reported today that the woman is reluctant to come forward
The New York Times reported that one of Cain's accusers received $35,000, a year's salary, in severance pay after an incident with Cain that made her uncomfortable. The story said the incident came "in the context of a work outing during which there had been heavy drinking."
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