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Shreveport, La. — A Louisiana man said he met presidential hopeful Herman Cain in 1997 through his then-girlfriend, a woman who recently accused the pizza restaurateur of sexual harassment.

Victor Zuckerman, a Ruston, La., pediatrician, said he met Cain at an after-party at the conclusion of a 1997 National Restaurant Association conference in Chicago. Sharon Bialek wanted him to meet Cain, Zuckerman said.

"She told me I needed to meet this man of wit, of warmth and of great speaking abilities," said Zuckerman at a news conference at the Holiday Inn in Shreveport. Bialek's attorney Gloria Allred was at his side.

Allred told reporters that Zuckerman chose to come forward after Cain denied knowing Bialek.

"After he reviews Dr. Zuckerman's statement (Cain) needs to be honest and forthcoming about the fact that he does know Sharon Bialek," Allred said. "In addition, he needs to admit all of the details of what happened when she met with him in Washington, D.C., in 1997."

Bialeck is the first of four women to publicly say that Cain sexually harassed her. Bialek, who lost her job with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation shortly after the 1997 conference, has said the unwanted sexual advances happened during a trip to Washington to see Cain for help in getting another job.

Last week during a news conference, Bialek alleged that Cain put his hand up her skirt and groped her when she asked his help in finding a job.

Cain has denied the accusations, saying, in fact, that he doesn't know Bialek.

Zuckerman said he paid for Bialek's travel and hotel costs to the Washington meeting with Cain, but said he did not pay for an upgrade to her hotel suite. Bialek has accused Cain of paying for the upgrade.

During the trip, Zuckerman said Bialek told him that Cain had touched her in an inappropriate manner.

"She said she handled it and did not want to talk about it further," Zuckerman said. "I respected her request and the issue was not brought up until recently. "

Zuckerman's statement came hours before a taped interview of Cain's wife, Gloria, was set to air on Fox News.