At the National Press Club yesterday afternoon, Cain said that he didn't not know if the trade association had provided any settlements, and he declined to address specifics of the accusations or any resolution.
"I am unaware of any sort of settlement," he said. "I hope it wasn't for much, because I didn't do anything."
But in an interview later with Fox News, Cain said that he did know about it. "Yes, there was some sort of settlement or termination," he said.
During his appearance at the press club, he declared: "There's nothing else there to dig up. . . . We have no idea the source of this witch hunt, which is really what it is."
In an interview with the Associated Press immediately afterward, Cain first said that he had some memory of specific allegations, and then said he was not aware of any.
When pressed, he said: "That was 12 years ago. So, no, I don't remember."
Still later, in an interview with PBS NewsHour, he said that he remembered that "once I referenced this lady's height and I was standing near her" and that the woman "thought that that was too close for comfort."
Cain defended himself. "It was in my office, the door was wide open, and my secretary was sitting right there, and we were standing there and I made the little gesture," he said.
Cain started the day with a breakfast appearance at the American Enterprise Institute, and he said, "I do have a sense of humor and some people have a problem with that." In the interview with AP, Cain said that that comment did not refer to the sexual- harassment allegations.
He also had said in humorous fashion, "As a result of today's big news story, I really know what it feels like to be No. 1."
The trade association declined to comment on the allegations.
