Report: Herman Cain was accused of sexual harassment

A report published by Politico late Sunday night reveals that two women accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment while he was head of the National Restaurant Assn. in the late 1990s.

The Republican presidential candidate and retired pizza chain executive has refused to comment on the allegations, but a campaign spokesman told Politico that Cain was “vaguely familiar” with the charges.

The two women had worked at the restaurant trade group under Cain, but left their posts after complaining about his behavior. The women signed agreements with the association that included financial payouts and barred them from discussing their departures, according to the Politico report.

Sources told Politico that the behavior included, “conversations allegedly filled with innuendo or personal questions of a sexually suggestive nature, taking place at hotels during conferences, at other officially sanctioned restaurant association events and at the association’s offices.”

Cain refused Sunday to discuss the matter when a Politico reporter approached him on the street in Washington, D.C.

Cain said he would not comment until he saw “some facts or some concrete evidence.”

“Have you ever been accused, sir, in your life of harassment by a woman?” a reporter asked.

Cain replied: “Have you ever been accused of sexual harassment?”

Cain is scheduled to appear Monday morning at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, where he will discuss his “9-9-9” tax plan.

kim.geiger@latimes.com