we're about to hear, we suspect, from joel bennett on whether or not they worked out an agreement with the national restaurant association. >> wolf, we're hearing that something could come soon from mr. bennett within way or the other to let us know if we're going to get some kind of a statement from his client, who is one of the accusers of herman cain. he says his client wants to set the record straight. we believed we could get a statement fairly soon from mr. bennett distributed by him on behalf of his client. what we're not going to get is her identity. she has apparently said to him she wishes to remain private but she does want to rebut herman cain's claims that the charges -- the accusations against him are groundless, which he's been saying all week. so we should be hearing from joel bennett fairly soon we believe that is coming up, wolf. in the meantime we do have some information. we talked to a former national restaurant association employee who knows one of herman cain's accuser. this loyy met with the accuser on the day the employee left the nra. he said the accuser said

. >> joel bennett representing karen kraushaar, the first woman to come forward and accuse cain of sexual harassment. he joins me from his home in maryland. mr. bennett, let's get to the bottom of this because your client has now come out in public. why? >> she's come out in public because her name was revealed by the media, and she's decided, since her name is in the media now, that she wants to get the details of her complaint out since mr. cain is still denying any sexual harassment or impropriety. >> herman cain says about your client that the only thing he can recall in terms of any complaint made was telling her that he was the same -- that she was the same size as his wife. is that accurate? is that the full extent of the alleged harassment? >> it certainly is not. my client is a very intelligent, well educated woman. she would never file a complaint about an innocent remark like that. my client is 5'2". she's not the same height as mr. cain's wife. and the incidents that were reported to the national restaurant association were multiple, over multiple days. >> i suppose the obviou

>> well, i think this is a woman, as joel bennett has said, who really didn't want to make this public. she said to me, i was sick of this 12 years ago. but now it's no longer a private matter, it's a personally embarrassing matter. she is clearly somebody who wants to set the record straight. and she made it clear to me that she has kept copies of all of her allegations and she doesn't need to go to the national restaurant association for permission to release them now that her confidentiality has been waived. so i believe we could potentially see the release of these documents with names redacted if she wishes at some point in the near future. she spoke about getting the women together who have some claims. she said there's safety in numbers and maybe we can figure out what we can do together. she would not comment on mr. cain's press conference today, but she did say that if we get the women together, she has no doubt that he will deny everything. she said, quote, he's a serial denier. he will deny it if it's 4 women or 40 women. >> let's bring in gloria allred now who is the lawyer

we just spoke with her attorney, joel bennett.lationship with this woman and what happened? >> hey, wolf, thank you. so, she used to work for me when i worked for the government in the late '90s. she was one of my employees. and i have to tell you, when i found out that she was one of the accusers, my jaw dropped because as a former employer, in my opinion, this woman's credibility is beyond reproach. while she worked for me, she exhibited nothing but the yut most professionalism. an incredibly hard worker. i put her on projects that were very difficult to execute and she did them beautifully. i just have to say that i was in disbelief when i found out she was one of the accusers. so, i think that mr. cain really needs to think long and hard about what he need to say at 5:00, but she's not the only one making these accusations and for him to come out and say as i believe he's going to, that they're all lies, i don't think that is going to cut it anymore. >> have you had a chance to speak with her? her name is karen -- is that how

we'll hear from joel bennett.hat he will say about the details of the karen kraushaar events. where do we stand with all of this, steve? >> this is the fundamental problem for herman cain. the fact we're talking about it. the fact that there is another news conference. the fact there is another name put to some of these allegations or a face put to some of these allegations. the fact that when voters think about herman cain, if you asked voters two weeks ago, when you think of herman cain what do you think? everybody would have said 9-9-9. this is the guy, anti-politician speaking directly to republican primary voters and known for bringing tax reform into this debate, an important issue at an important time. now you ask people what they think about when they think about herman cain, overwhelmingly they will talk about this swirl of allegations that have been brought against him. martha: steve, give me a second. is that joel bennett that stepped in front of the camera. hang on for us. >> do a joint press conferenc

to pop up these live pimps, outside an attorney's office in washington, d.c., the attorney is joel bennettw the name, we have been talking about joel ben pelt, he represents one of these clients wounks these women who is involved in this sexual harassment story that we have been covering this last week with regard to herman cain they worked together at the national restaurant association some years ago. she accused him of sexual harassment. the story's come to light. we have now learned that both the national restaurant association and this client vis-a-vis her attorney, are amicably discussing her releasing a statement. they have to work with the association because there was this confidentiality agree n 1818-- agreement in 1999. when he comes out, we will be there, brian todd will be there. >>> the browing cyberbattle between the hacker group anonymous and a mexican drug cartel may now be at a draw. a kidnapped member of their group has been freed. anonymous had had threatened to release names, personal information about people linked to the cartel if the person wasn't released. but the

joining me now is joel bennett, the lawyer for one of the two women who settled sexual harassment claims against cain at the restaurant association. up until now, mr. bennett's client has remained anonymous. but in an interview published within the past hour, she has been publicly identified as karen kraushaar, a 55-year-old woman who works at the treasury department. now, she was accuser "a," who worked in the communications department of the restaurant association. she filed her complaint in 1999 and reportedly received $45,000 settlement. mr. bennett, thank you for being with me tonight. we'll talk about your client in a moment. but, first, herman cain said about these accusations "they simply did not happen." what is your reaction to mr. cain saying that what has been reported about your client just didn't happen? >> my client filed a detailed, written complaint in 1999, specifying multiple incidents of sexual harassment over multiple days. the incidents happened and my client stands by the written complaint that she filed. >> mr. bennett, can you -- are you at liberty to tell us the

. >> that's joel bennett, lawyer for one of two employees who filed sexual harassment complaints againsthen he ran the national restaurant association. today bennett said that their client waived confidentiality but would not be saying anything beyond the brief statement she co-wrote with him. here is a portion. >> she made a complaint in good faith about a series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances from the ceo. those complaints are resolved in an agreement with her acceptance of a monetary settlement. she and her husband see no value in revisiting this matter now nor in discussing the matter any further publicly or privately. in fact, it would be extremely painful to do so. >> the statement concludes, quote, my client stands by the complaint she made. as you heard, the complaint, which bennett says was filed in july of 1999 and settled that september alleges a series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances. herman cain says he can only recall one incident with one woman and we don't know which woman he is talking about. >> she was in the office one day and i made

originally, we were expecting the attorney joel p. bennett in

. >> that's joel bennett, lawyer for one of two employees who filed sexual harassment complaints against when he ran the national restaurant association. today bennett said that their client waived confidentiality but would not be saying anything beyond the brief statement she co-wrote with him. here is a portion. >> she made a complaint in good faith about a series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances from the ceo. those complaints are resolved in an agreement with her acceptance of a monetary settlement. she and her husband see no value in revisiting this matter now nor in discussing the matter any further publicly or privately. in fact, it would be extremely painful to do so. >> the statement concludes, quote, my client stands by the complaint she made. as you heard, the complaint, which bennett says was filed in july of 1999 and settled that september alleges a series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances. herman cain says he can only recall one incident with one woman and we don't know which woman he is talking about. >> she was in the office one day and i mad

joel bennett contacted one of their attorneys today, gave them a proposed statement from the woman. the association says it's reviewing the document. it is going to respond tomorrow. bennett wants the association to release the woman from the deal. he says she's upset that cain has said her case has no merit. we talked to deborah kelly, who said she'd be surprised if the restaurant association releases the woman. i asked kelly what are the risk for that group to do that. >> the risks are that everything they wanted not to be discussed, again, settlement is not necessarily i did something wrong. it's i want peace, i don't want to pay the lawyers. they don't get peace. they get this issue from the '90s bubbling up again. >> the accuser who's seeking that release has not been named by any news organization. joel bennett tells us she is a career civil servant who has worked at several federal government agencies as a spokeswoman. if released, she still may not go public beyond giving a statement. she told "the washington post" she has decided not to go public. when asked why, quote, i'm

with his clients tonight and says he'll submit his formal request probably tomorrow, wolf. >> joel bennett also believes, brian, that herman cain has already broken that confidentiality deal, doesn't he? >> he apparently does. bennett says for all intents and purposes, cain has violated that. in a recent interview, cain said of one of his accusers, quote, i do recall that her performance had been told to me by her boss, had not been up to par, end quote. bennett says there is a nondisparagement agreement in the deal. deborah kelly says if cain spoke negatively about the woman's work performance in public, he might have broken that part of the agreement. cain has vehemently denied breaking that deal. >> because that agreement was between the national restaurant association and this woman and cain was the head of the association at the time, so automatically, he was part of that confidentiality agreement. thanks very much. for a brief moment, the controversy seemed to get the better of herman cain as the candidate showed a flash of irritation. jim acosta was on the scene for us as he often i

. >> joel bennett has been in touch with gloria allred. the push is based on herman cain's comment that he does not even recall this latest accuser. >> i do not know who this woman is. >> this man has completed and the ship. pathological liars usually do this kind of thing. >> party leaders know his issues may be front and st. -- and center. >> i would suspect that he will keep dealing with them. >> it is unlikely that we'll you will hear much onstage about this tonight. the camp has been quick to point out that karen kraushaar also filed grievances out another job three years later. she described them as relatively minor complaints. >> we are following breaking news. the fbi is investigating a report of a suspicious package at a building on 12th street in crystal city. police said the package was delivered through the mail. they confirm a bomb sniffing dog has detected something suspicious. we will continue to follow the story of through the evening. >>> the penn state scandal leads to the end of an era. joe paterno says he will retire on

. >> well, joel bennett, the attorney for one of these anonymous women on friday, wolf, said exactlyt. as you know, he came out and said that his client needed to set the record straight, that there were inappropriate advances -- plural -- made to her. and while she didn't want to release her name, she felt that she had to let it be known that she felt that her claims were legitimate and that she received a settlement as a result of her sexual harassment claims, that it was not just some severance p pay. so what you've had is an anonymous he said/she said situation. herman cain's been able to raise a lot of money off of this. and now that somebody specific will come out, it kind of changes the equation an awful lot. >> i should point out we have attempted repeatedly all day to get in touch with the herman cain campaign and get some reaction. i assume we'll get some reaction after we hear what gloria allred and her clients say at this news conference that was supposed to start seven or eight minutes ago. i assume it will start very voon, a jam-packed room over there at fryar's club. a

and the lawyer on friday, when we heard joel bennett, he didn't want to go into the specifics. she wants to just continue her private work. she works for the federal government. she's been married for 26 years. i guess he can't blame her for wanting to maintain some privacy in all of this. >> sure, you can't. there is an option, which is don't do anything. she was clearly angered by what herman cain was saying publicly, because she believes her complaint was valid. so, you either go out and do it publicly or you do nothing. instead, she took sort of a middle ta krchct. and i think that puts herman cain in a very difficult and unfair position, because he's responding to anonymous charges publicly. >> and he's going forward, trying to do the best he can to try to move beyond it. >> right. >> we'll look ahead this week to see how it unfolds, gloria. i assume he will want to focus in on the economy 9-9-9 tax reform plan and all of that. >> that's what his campaign says. since this story broke a week ago, herman cain has raised $1.6 million for the entire last quarter, he raised $2.

joel bennett, lawyer for one of two women who settled sexual harassment complaints against herman cain, says she is seeking permission to speak out. >> i will be sending by e-mail this morning to the restaurant association's attorney a draft statement of my client's position for the restaurant association's agreement for release not withstanding the confidentiality clause of the 1999 settlement agreement. >> reporter: the new york times reports one of the women who settled claims against cain received $45,000. another received $35,000. the associated press reports a third woman considered filing suit as well. now for its part the national restaurant association released its own statement acknowledging that it has heard from attorney joel bennett and saying that they wanted him to contact their attorney, but what the statement did not say was whether or not the national restaurant association's going to relieve cain's accuse -- release cain's accusers from the confidentiality agreement. for cain the controversy has overshadowed what was going to be the d.c. introduction this week of his

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joining me now, joel bennett, the attorney for one of the women who has accused herman cain of sexual harassment. thanks for joining me tonight, mr. bennett. >> you're welcome, lawrence. >> mr. bennett, have you had any contact with sharon bialek? >> i had contact with a woman named sharon in chicago the last five days. i don't know if it's the same sharon because i never got her last name. the sharon i had contact with left a voicemail in my office one night indicating she had been harassed by herman cain while he was with the national restaurant association. when i called her back the next day, she said she had decided not to pursue it further. i then called her again yesterday to advise her that she could give her information confidentially if she wanted to. she said she'd think about it and let me know. i have not heard from her since then. it may be the same woman who spoke out today. >> so you did have conversations with her on the phone only with the first name sharon and you heard her voice in this press conference today. does it sound like the same person? >> i really couldn'

she's naturally concerned about all the publicity and this coming up 12 years after the fact. >> joel bennetty upset since the story first came out because cain is giving the impression that she made it all up. bennett says he knows his client very well and that he is sure she would not make a false complaint. >>> coming up, why the u.s. military wants to give lollipops to injured soldiers in the field. >>> and take a look at these pictures. a car crashes into this hydrant. and look what happens. that's just bizarre. we'll have more on this story just ahead. >>> but first, on this day in history, 28 years ago, president ronald reagan signed the king holiday bill into law. the legislation made martin luther king jr.'s birthday a federal holiday. 44 minutes past the hour. sorry. these people, huh? you know i've found that anger is the enemy of instruction. you don't know the egos that i have to deal with. you're probably right. thank you! whoever you are. i'm pretty sure that was phil jackson. he's quite famous... million championships... triangle offense innovator... [ male announcer ] the aud

restaurant association released its own statement acknowledging that it has heard from attorney joel bennett and saying that they wanted him to contact their attorney. but what the statement did not say was whether or not the national restaurant association's going to release cain's accusers from the confidentiality agreement. for cain, the controversy overchateauxed the introduction this week of the presidential campaign. >> i have never sexually harassed anyone there are factioning trying to destroy me personally. >> reporter: statements are blaming the story being leaked on the rival campaigns of rick perry and to mitt romney. >> they will look beyond all of the silly attacks and ask themselves who can get them going again. >> experts say with the accusers barred from speaking, what exactly happen side unclear. >> and we'll never know unless it's weighed. >> reporter: carol goldberg is an expert on sexual harassment litigation and cautions it. >> it's more cost effect testify settle the case than pursue it. >> reporter: herman cain returns to washington on friday trying to refocus the att

lawyer joel bennett told us she was prepared to hold a press conference to talk about several instances of alleged harassment by cain that lead to a settlement with the national restaurant association. >> she feels that with all these denials by mr. cain that it's appropriate for her to put more of the facts out there to the extent that she's comfortable doing so. >> reporter: another woman who said cain was sexually impropriety with her, sharon bialek, has agreed to participate. as the women come forward, they are facing increased scrutiny. cain's campaign released information showing bialek had financial problems and had been sued a half dozen times. we asked her lawyer about that tactic. >> the more the cain campaign tries it attack her, the more it says to me that they are very worried, perhaps desperate. >> reporter: and reports surfaced today that karen kraashaur filed another complaint when she was at another job after her supervisors refused her request to work from home. >> every complaint has to be judged on its own merits and the fact that someone filed another complaint else

. >> joel bennett, that's who it was, sawed his client stands by her comments while the cain campaign continues to call the claims baseless. jeffrey toobin is our senior legal analyst. gloria borger is our chief political analyst. great to have both of you with us. let me start with you, gloria. you spoke to the national restaurant association today, and now that the lawyer said all right, the woman, multiple events but she doesn't want to give details, doesn't want to give her name. but now that the national restaurant association has allowed her to speak, does that now mean any day, any day, anytime for the next -- >> she could. >> anytime, right? >> yeah. but she's not going to. which -- it's clear that the restaurant association allowed her -- released her from her pledge of confidentiality and all her lawyer wanted, all joel bennett wanted was to allow them to release this statement. so this woman clearly wanted to be able to say anonymously that herman cain is not right, that there was a basis to her claims of sexual harassment, but she was not willing to go out publicly. so hon

. >> joel bennett, that's who it was, said his client stands by her comments while the cain campaign continues to call the claims baseless. jeffrey toobin is our senior legal analyst. gloria borger is our chief political analyst. great to have both of you with us. let me start with you, gloria. you spoke to the national restaurant association today, and now that the lawyer said all right, the woman, multiple events but she doesn't want to give details, doesn't want to give her name. but now that the national restaurant association has allowed her to speak, does that now mean any day, any day, anytime for the next -- >> she could. >> anytime, right? >> yeah. but she's not going to. which -- it's clear that the restaurant association allowed her -- released her from her pledge of confidentiality and all her lawyer wanted, all joel bennett wanted was to allow them to release this statement. so this woman clearly wanted to be able to say anonymously that herman cain is not right, that there was a basis to her claims of sexual harassment, but she was not willing to go out publicly. so hon

lawyer joel bennett went public with his client's version of events, confirmed that she filed a sexualarassment complaint against cain in 1999 while he was ceo of the national restaurant association citing several incidents. >> she made a complaint in good faith about a series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances from the ceo. >> reporter: bennett also confirmed that she received a financial settlement. what about cain's denials? >> mr. cain knows the specific incidents that were alleged. my client filed a written complaint in 1999 against him specifically and it had very specific incidents in it. if he chooses to not remember or not acknowledge those, that's his issue. >> reporter: the cain campaign's response? we look forward to focusing our attention on the real issues impacting this country. bennett's client, now a spokesperson for a federal agency in washington, chose not to reveal details of the incidents. sources involved with the restaurant group at the time tell nbc that cain's inappropriate behavior was directed at young staffers and usually involved drinking. the