AL GORE was apparrently looking for some "headache" relief
AP PRESS
Authorities in Oregon have confirmed a tabloid report that former Vice President Al Gore was investigated four years ago after a masseuse accused him of "unwanted sexual contact" at a Portland hotel, but the case was not pursued because of a lack of evidence.
The Portland Police Bureau released a statement Wednesday addressing accusations made in 2006, saying the woman was called to Gore's room at Hotel Lucia in October of that year to give him a massage. The police statement came in response to a report earlier in the day in the National Enquirer.
According to the police, a local attorney contacted investigators "and said he had a client that wanted to report an unwanted sexual contact by Mr. Gore." But the alleged victim declined to be interviewed by detectives and the attorney told the police months later "that they were pursuing civil litigation."
Multnomah County District Attorney Michael D. Schrunk also confirmed the report Wednesday, saying his office was contacted by the police after the allegations were made.
"We were told the woman was not willing to be interviewed by the Portland Police Bureau and did not want a criminal investigation to proceed," Schrunk said in a statement.
The police said three years later, in January 2009, that the woman finally came forward and gave a statement about the alleged incident. "The case was not investigated any further because detectives concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations," the police said Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the woman came forward again and asked to amend her original statement. She provided a few more details and "also advised that she was going to take the case to the media," the police said.
A spokesperson for the Gore family declined to comment Wednesday.
The Enquirer story comes three weeks after Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, announced they were separating after 40 years of marriage.
Authorities in Oregon have confirmed a tabloid report that former Vice President Al Gore was investigated four years ago after a masseuse accused him of "unwanted sexual contact" at a Portland hotel, but the case was not pursued because of a lack of evidence.
The Portland Police Bureau released a statement Wednesday addressing accusations made in 2006, saying the woman was called to Gore's room at Hotel Lucia in October of that year to give him a massage. The police statement came in response to a report earlier in the day in the National Enquirer.
According to the police, a local attorney contacted investigators "and said he had a client that wanted to report an unwanted sexual contact by Mr. Gore." But the alleged victim declined to be interviewed by detectives and the attorney told the police months later "that they were pursuing civil litigation."
Multnomah County District Attorney Michael D. Schrunk also confirmed the report Wednesday, saying his office was contacted by the police after the allegations were made."We were told the woman was not willing to be interviewed by the Portland Police Bureau and did not want a criminal investigation to proceed," Schrunk said in a statement.
The police said three years later, in January 2009, that the woman finally came forward and gave a statement about the alleged incident. "The case was not investigated any further because detectives concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations," the police said Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the woman came forward again and asked to amend her original statement. She provided a few more details and "also advised that she was going to take the case to the media," the police said.
A spokesperson for the Gore family declined to comment Wednesday.
The Enquirer story comes three weeks after Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, announced they were separating after 40 years of marriage.