The fiance of the local woman accusing Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain of making inappropriate sexual advances came to her defense Monday.
Sharon Bialek is the first of four alleged victims to detail her encounters with the former head of the National Restaurant Association, claiming Monday that she and Cain met in 1996 in Chicago when he was the head of the National Restaurant Association, and that he made the sexual advances at a later meeting in Washington, D.C.
Bialek lives in Mundelein with Mark Harwood, who she's been with for the past four years, well after the alleged incident occured with Cain.
Harwood told NBC 5 that Bialek told him about about the incident Friday and that he stands behind his fiancee.
"I know in my heart of hearts after four years she's true blue," Harwood said. "I had nothing to consider when we were talking about it. I think it's a natural reaction to rebuff it and try to sweep it under the carpet."
Bialek said she didn't file a complaint at the time because she wasn't employed by the foundation, but the other three women empowered her to speak up.
"There are situations like this, if there's no face or name or voice, then perhaps thre's not so much credibility to what's being said, so I think she’s trying to be an advocate of not only herself, but also for the three other ladies," Harwood said.
"It's a real life issue, she's dealt with it, and dealt with it in a very admirable and mature way. She wants to get here opinion and voice out there and vindicate her good name, and that should be the end of it."
At Monday's news conference, Bialek said she wanted Cain to "come clean" and "admit what you did."
