Conservatives are questioning Herman Cain after he allegedly tried to conceal the sexual identity of a top adviser, the Associated Press reports. Allegations arose after campaign coordinator Kevin Hall filed for unemployment benefits, citing that Cain’s team tried to cover up an adviser’s sexual orientation in an effort to appease conservatives. Campaign attorney for Cain did not dispute the allegations, thereby granting Hall full unemployment benefits in wake of the scheme.
The reported cover-up is centered on Cain’s top political adviser, Scott Toomey, whose sexual orientation was allegedly concealed by the Cain campaign. Toomey, treasurer for the Madison Pride Board, “had become an issue” for Cain supporters, due in part to his involvement with the gay Pride parade of Wisconsin, even though the Madison Pride Board removed Toomey as treasurer after discovering bills and other financial obligations surrounding the event had not been paid.
Hall said he was not bothered by Toomey’s background, but rather, was upset over the campaign’s attempt in covering up Toomey’s involvement.
“A conservative candidate, Mr. Cain is on the record as stating that he believes homosexuality is a sin and a choice. And they know that, if his top adviser, his highly paid adviser, is openly gay that it would cast a negative light on Mr. Cain and would cost him in his efforts to become president,” he testified. “Basically the campaign was trying to cover up the fact that Mr. Toomey was still involved. They asked … me to help them cover up that fact.”
In response, to the allegations, Cain spokesperson Ellen Carmichael explained that “[Toomey’s] sexuality is not this campaign’s business” and not the reason that Toomey is no longer on staff.
Judge Bonny Hendricksmeyer awarded benefits to Hall explaining that “the presence of the gay person on the campaign was misrepresented to the staff, which caused Mr. Hall and others to inadvertently misrepresent the fact to others.” Hendricksmeyer went on to explain that Hall’s career could have been put in jeopardy from the cover-up and that Hall’s credibility could have suffered later in his political profession.
