Woman claims ‘Unwanted Sexual Contact’ with Gore

Police in Portland, Oregon, have reopened an investigation into a massage therapist’s allegation that former Vice President Al Gore had “unwanted sexual contact” with her in 2006.{{more}}

“The Portland Police Bureau has made the decision to reopen the case regarding the allegations brought forward against Mr. Al Gore,” Detective Mary Wheat said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.

“Consistent with our policy regarding open investigations, the Police Bureau will not be commenting on any additional specifics regarding this case at this time.”

A renewed investigation “will only benefit Mr. Gore,” said Kalee Kreider, a spokeswoman for the former vice president.

“The Gores cannot comment on every defamatory, misleading and inaccurate story generated by tabloids,” Kreider said.

Kreider noted that Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied the accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago.

She added that he stands by that denial.

The massage therapist said she had an appointment with “Mr Stone” at 10:30 pm but the hotel’s front desk told her he wouldn’t be available until 11 pm. When she knocked on the door, Al Gore opened it.

She said she was doing requested abdominal work on Gore when he started to moan and demanded she go lower.

“I was shocked, and I did not massage beyond what is considered a safe, nonsexual area of the abdomen,” she said.

“I went into much deeper shock as I realised it appeared he was demanding sexual favours or sexual behaviours.”

She said Gore grabbed her hand and shoved it toward his pubic area. She alleged he later tried to have sex with her and began caressing her before she squirmed out of his grasp.

The therapist told police in a prepared statement in January 2009 that she was “repeatedly subjected to unwanted sexual touching” by Gore during an October 2006 massage she performed on the former vice president at his hotel room, Portland police disclosed last week.

The department concluded there was not enough evidence to bring charges against the former vice president back then. Police said her attorney had approached police in 2006, but she did not speak with detectives at that time.

The attorney told investigators in January 2007 that the accuser would pursue a civil case and “declined the assistance” of detectives. The Police Bureau said last week it disclosed the matter after a story on the complaint appeared in the tabloid National Enquirer.