A Cain campaign spokesman said Friday that Cain is considering a lawsuit against Washington-based Politico, the news outlet that first reported accusations of sexual harassment brought against the Georgia businessman, reports Reuters.

Politico broke the story Sunday night that two former female employees of the National Restaurant Association accused Cain of sexual harassment while he was leader of the group in the 1990s. Cain maintains his innocence and has accused fellow GOP contender Rick Perry’s campaign of instigating the controversy.

"It is being discussed," Cain's chief of staff Mark Block told Fox News on Friday, when asked if the campaign was considering suing Politico. "The Politico article, if it was held up to the same standards as the code of ethics of journalism, the people involved would be fired."

Politico has stood by its report and a third woman has come forward who had accused Cain of sexual harassment.