Once in a while, a sexual harassment scandal shakes up a politician's career. In this political cycle, that person is Herman Cain.

Cain has been accused of sexual harassment by a federal worker who was employed by the National Restaurant Association, where Cain was president from 1996 through 1999. The woman says she and another female worker received a settlement years ago.

She also apparently signed a confidentiality agreement, meaning she is barred from discussing specifics. The woman's attorney is calling upon the National Restaurant Association to waive the agreement so the woman, who lives in Maryland, can tell her side of the story.

Details are sparse, but the woman says the alleged harassment was not a one-time thing and occurred over a period of months, according to the Washington Post. Another woman was apparently paid a year's salary after she claimed Cain made her uncomfortable while working at the restaurant association.

For his part, Cain is calling his recollection "hazy" but is denying the allegations. Only his version of events, vague as it is, has been publicly aired. That's what the woman is hoping to change. Her representatives say she is eager to share her story, although she is apparently wary of the invasive media coverage she would not doubt receive.

For his part, the allegations don't seem to be hurting Cain's campaign. Recent polls still show the Georgia businessman at or near the top of the pack of Republican presidential candidates. It remains to be seen if there will be an impact on his campaign in the long run.

Source: Washington Post, "Herman Cain's accuser wants to tell her side of story, lawyer says," Sandhya Somashekhar and James V. Grimaldi, Nov. 1, 2011