Reporter William March has covered state and national politics since 1994. Email
Reporter Mike Salinero has covered Hillsborough County government for The Tampa Tribune since 2007. Email
Reporter Lindsay Peterson has been a general assignment reporter at the Tampa Tribune since 2005, focusing on higher education since 2009. Email
Posted Nov 8, 2011 by William March
Updated Nov 8, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Herman Cain said on a talk show Monday night that he’s going to tackle the latest accusation of sexual harassment against him “head on,” and his campaign today gave an indication what that means—an email news release consisting of personal attacks on the accuser, Sharon Bialek.
The email gives an indication of the approach Cain is likely to take in a news conference he’s scheduled to hold this afternoon on the subject.
“Who is Sharon Bialek?” is the headline of the news release, a statement from Cain press spokesman J.D. Gordon.
“The fact is that Ms. Bialek has a long and troubled history,” it says, referring to the history of financial problems and two incidents of personal bankruptcy in Bialek’s past.
Those past financial troubles, the news release suggests, “may help explain why she has come forward 14 years after an alleged incident with Mr. Cain.” However, the news release offers no explanation of how Bialek may benefit from making the accusation.
The news release lists half a dozen legal cases in which Bialek was sued over debts, plus her bankruptcy filings in 1991 and 2001.
Bialek has said those financial problems resulted from a divorce and custody fight, and from her attempts to help her ill father financially.
Here’s the text of the Cain new release:
Who is Sharon Bialek?
As Ms. Sharon Bialek has placed herself in the public spotlight through making patently false allegations against Herman Cain, it is only fair to compare her track record alongside Mr. Cain’s.
In stark contrast to Mr. Cain’s four decades spent climbing the corporate ladder rising to the level of CEO at multiple successful business enterprises, Ms. Bialek has taken a far different path.
The fact is that Ms. Bialek has had a long and troubled history, from the courts to personal finances – which may help explain why she has come forward 14 years after an alleged incident with Mr. Cain, powered by celebrity attorney and long term Democrat donor Gloria Allred.
In the courts, Ms. Bialek has had a lengthy record in the Cook County Court system over various civil lawsuits. The following cases on file in Cook County are:
· 2000-M1-707461 Defendant against Broadcare Management
· 2000-M1-714398 Defendant in lawsuit against Broadcare Management
· 2000-M1-701522 Defendant in lawsuit against Broadcare Management
· 2005-M1-111072 Defendant in lawsuit against Mr. Mark Beatovic.
· 2007-M1-189176 Defendant in lawsuit against Midland Funding.
· 2009-M1-158826 Defendant in lawsuit against Illinois Lending.
Ms. Bialek was also sued in 1999 over a paternity matter according to ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV). Source: WLS-TV, November 7, 2011
In personal finances, PACER (Federal Court) records show that Ms. Bialek has filed for bankruptcy in the Northern District of Illinois bankruptcy court in 1991 and 2001. The respective case numbers according to the PACER system are 1:01-bk-22664 and 1:91-bk-23273.
Ms. Bialek has worked for nine employers over the last seventeen years. Source: WLS-TV, November 7, 2011
Curiously, if Ms. Bialek had intended to take legal action, the statute of limitations would have passed a decade ago.
Which brings up the question of why she would make such reprehensible statements now?
The questions should be – who is financing her legal team, have any media agreed to pay for her story, and has she been offered employment for taking these actions?
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