Police Explain Reasons for Reopening Al Gore Case

CNS News ^ | 7/2/2010 | Terrence Petty

[IbJensen]

Portland, Ore. (AP) - Police explained Thursday why they reopened a sexual assault investigation into Al Gore, saying an extra review was needed because detectives looking into the matter last year failed to notify high-ranking officials of their decision to drop the case.

A massage therapist to the stars has accused the former vice president of repeatedly groping and kissing her during a late-night, alcohol-fueled attack in a luxury hotel suite in October 2006. Gore adamantly denies the allegations.

Detectives investigated the claims in 2006 and 2009 but decided not to pursue the case amid a lack of cooperation and erratic behavior by the accuser. The story re-emerged last week after she told her story to the National Enquirer, and police this week said they would reopen the case.

Portland Police Chief Michael Reese said Thursday that "we have determined there were procedural issues with the 2009 investigation that merit reopening the case." Officers took the accuser's statement but didn't proceed further and didn't clear that decision with higher-ups. In addition, prosecutors were not made aware of the 2009 investigation until recently.

Police would not say whether they would interrogate Gore or examine a pair of black pants the accuser wore on the night in question that she said became stained during the massage.

Gore has said through a spokeswoman that he "unequivocally and emphatically denies" the accusations and believes he will be fully exonerated once the investigation is complete.

"Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore," said the spokeswoman, Kalee Kreider.

A longtime Gore friend and former campaign and political consultant, Mark McNeely of Nashville, said in a telephone interview Thursday that the allegation seems like an "utterly ridiculous" attempt by the accuser to enrich herself.

Reese promised a thorough, fair and expedited investigation.

"We ask for the public's patience as we let the facts of the investigation guide us and ensure the integrity of the investigation," Reese said. "I have asked Detectives to assign appropriate resources in the interest of conducting a complete investigation in an expedited manner."

The investigation threatens to engulf Gore in a sex scandal once unthinkable for the Nobel prize winner who built up an image as a doting husband and family man who fell in love with his wife at the high school prom and lived happily ever after. The Gores' squeaky clean public image always stood in sharp contrast to the troubled marriage of the Clintons during their time in the White House.

But Gore and his wife, Tipper, announced in June that they were breaking up, saying that they had grown apart after 40 years of marriage. Associates and family friends said there was no affair involved.

Not long after the split became public, Portland police announced that they had investigated Gore on sexual assault charges over the encounter with massage therapist Molly Hagerty in October 2006.

Police decided in 2006 not to pursue a case after her lawyer told them she would file a civil complaint. She came back to cops in early 2009 and asked that they bring the case again, providing them a statement that spelled out in precise detail how Gore allegedly assaulted her.

She showed up at Gore's 9th-floor executive suite late on the night of Oct. 24 while he was in town for a speech on global warming. "Call me Al," she quoted Gore as saying as he gave her a big hug.

She said he was finishing up a beer when she entered the room, and told investigators it wasn't long before an innocent massage turned into a series of unwanted sexual advances.

Hagerty said he dimmed the lights and asked her to massage the inside muscles of his thigh -- a request she viewed as inappropriate. She refused and he allegedly put her hands on his genital area. Hagerty said Gore became angry when she pushed back.

Once the massage was complete and she began packing up her table, massage butters and other materials, Hagerty said Gore began to grope her.

"I squirmed to try and get out of his grasp, telling him to stop, don't, several times, and I finally told him and said, 'You're being a crazed sex poodle,'" she told investigators.

She said she distracted Gore, and he stopped. Later, he tried to ply her with cognac and fondle her again, Hagerty alleges.

The Associated Press does not generally identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes, but Hagerty has made her identity public by giving an interview to the National Enquirer.

Hagerty said they engaged in several random conversations over the course of the night, including his lingering bitterness over losing the 2000 presidential election, the marital situation of Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton and his ties to Apple board of directors.

At one point, Hagerty said Gore pinned her on the bed as he played Pink's anti-Bush screed, "Dear Mr. President," on an iPod.

She says she finally got away at around 1:30 a.m., went home, and called a friend about the ordeal. The woman said she was initially dissuaded from contacting the police by liberal friends, whom she refers to as "The Birkenstock Tribe," and of which she counts herself a member.

One friend "was basically asking me to just suck it up, otherwise the world's going to be destroyed from global warming," she said.

The latest edition of the National Enquirer identified the masseuse by name and said she wants a full investigation of Gore because "I want justice served."

"He turned from Mr. New Age into a pervert," Hagerty told the tabloid newspaper.

A photo with the article shows Hagerty holding a plastic bag containing a pair of pants from the night. She said she kept the pants because she wondered whether the stain might be Gore's semen, although she has also said no actual sex act took place.

She told the Enquirer, "I thought the stain could have occurred while Mr. Gore leaned on me while he was wearing an open robe." She said she paid to have the pants tested, but the findings were "inconclusive."

Hagerty, 54, lives in an apartment in southeast Portland. She didn't answer her door Thursday morning or return calls to The Associated Press.

[IbJensen]

"He turned from Mr. New Age into a pervert,"...

Gore was always a pervert!

[Vaduz]

Hagerty holding a plastic bag containing a pair of pants from the night.$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Mobties]

“...massage therapist to the stars...”

What the heck is that? Which stars?

[randog]

One friend "was basically asking me to just suck it up, otherwise the world's going to be destroyed from global warming," she said.

This guy would make a great pimp.

[Diogenesis]

Police Explain Reasons for Reopening Al Gore Case

Reason 1 - Mr. Gore is a famous DNC star.
So this had to be ‘closed’. Now it has gotten
traction in the blogs. Must be reopened
if there is to be any credibility.

[ETL]

excerpt:

"...the woman tells how Gore greeted her at the door of his room at the Hotel Lucia for the 11 p.m. appointment with a hug that "went on a bit long," then quipped "call me Al." Hotel staff had told the licensed therapist when booking her that the client was Al Gore, but that he was going under the name "Mr Stone."

Gore allegedly asked her to focus on his abdominal area and adductors -- the inner thigh muscles -- as well as his back and other areas.

While his lower body was covered with a sheet, she said, Gore "became vocal" with "muffled moans" and asked her to go lower, getting angry when she refused.

"It appeared he was demanding sexual favors or sexual behaviors," the woman said.

She then asked Gore to show her where he wanted to be massaged and he "grabbed my hand, shoved it down under the sheet to his ***** **** area, my fingers brushing against his ***** and firmly planted my hand on his pubic crest region and said to me 'There!' in a very sharp, loud, angry-sounding tone."

The woman told police she was caught in "a perfect storm" in a room with someone who was "Teflon-coated in terms of his credibility and celebrity status"..."

Police specifically responded to claims by the woman -- who said she remained clothed through the alleged encounter -- that she had noticed her black slacks had "stains" on them.

Police said they did not collect her attire because they believed it would not provide evidence.

“At this point, the Police Bureau does not consider this an ongoing investigation unless new evidence is received in this case,” Wednesday's police statement said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/24/massage-therapist-claims-gore-groped/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Text+-+Politics%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo
________________________________________________

[oust the louse]

Rack that picture ETL....outstanding!

[SatinDoll]

Oh, man!

I was raped and beaten twenty-seven years ago by a superior NCO when I was in the military.

You can’t imagine the agony I went through while thinking about what to do about it!

I was covered in bite marks and bruises and knew that most men, if dealt this kind of treatment, I’m sure would have reported the assault. But this was rape. In their minds most men would think it is just sex - she MUST have had it coming to her for some reason - she must have ASKED for it.

In the end I didn’t report it. Why?

Because, in the final analysis, I believed at the time, I would have suffered for the accusation in a male-dominated field. I decided not to accuse a high-ranking NCO of a heinous crime and kept it to myself. My room mate saw the bite marks and bruises - she knew, too.

I often wonder if this despicable man went on to harm others; whether I could have stopped a pattern of behavior that would hurt others. In hindsight, I should have had the courage then to stop him.

I admire this woman in Oregon. To do what she has done in Portland, Oregon, is exhibiting the courage to say ENOUGH, it must stop here - is brave very courageous. She is trying to stop a powerful man, one who feels he is entitled to harm others, merely because of he possesses political power.

I support those who present the truth, no matter the cost, about elitists who abuse their positions of power in our society versus those they perceive as weak.

Power to the people.

[Pravious]

Why do I have a feeling they are re-opening it just so they can declare Algore completely, 100% innocent... maybe throw some charges the way of the woman, and give Algore an award for... I dunno, just being HIM.

[corkoman]

Very sad. Your decision is understandable. To go up against a liberal deity like Al is to an extent brave, but he is not her chain of command and able to ruin her career. I hope you somehow found strength from your ordeal. Sounds like you are a strong person.

[LRS]

...it wasn't long before an innocent massage turned into a series of unwanted sexual advances.

Climate change

Was the investigation dropped because someone didn't believe in Gore-ball warming? It is difficult to imagine (and something I sure wouldn't want to think about!)

[ETL]

Remarkably similar to his one-time boss Bill Clinton. He probably figured if 'Slick Willy' Bill Clinton could get away with it, so could he.

ALL THE EX-PRESIDENT'S SCANDALS
Nurse backs up Clinton rape charge
Attended Broaddrick's wounds after alleged assault in Arkansas

June 26, 2003

[a few excerpts from article...]

Kelsey recalls Broaddrick saying the meeting with Clinton began with small talk, and "she was a little surprised he was by himself."

"She said he was showing her locations outside the window there in Little Rock, and then, all of a sudden, he just kind of grabbed her and started kissing her," remembers Kelsey.

"He overtook her and pushed her to the bed, and from that point on it was just a rape."

Kelsey says Broaddrick explained how her lip became swollen: "He bit her lip to try to keep her from struggling with him."

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=19483

[ETL]

"One friend "was basically asking me to just suck it up, otherwise the world's going to be destroyed from global warming," she said."

That should be "gore-bull warming"...

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Democrats are always given a get out of jail free pass and are allowed to go on committing their crimes, while normal people are prosecuted even if they are innocent. Clinton. Kennedy. Frank. Gore.

[Chode]

Oh WOE is me... whys everybody always pickin on me???

[org.whodat]

Do you think this will give algore better seating at the next demorat convention.

[Titus-Maximus]

I much rather like my term...Gornography, which has not become a more apt moniker for his spiels and spewings.

[Titus-Maximus]

which has NOW become a more apt moniker.

“not” was a TYPPOOOO

[ETL]

"Al Gore, the former US vice president, could become the world's first carbon billionaire after investing heavily in green energy companies."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/6491195/Al-Gore-could-become-worlds-first-carbon-billionaire.html

[GOPJ]

I often wonder if this despicable man went on to harm others; whether I could have stopped a pattern of behavior that would hurt others. In hindsight, I should have had the courage then to stop him.

You're forgiven. Each of us has to pick our battles - this one wasn't yours. I don't know why - you don't either. But the Hand that guides us felt you weren't up to it. Accept that deeper wisdom.

There might be a time when someone else is wounded - and you'll be the protector who must step forward. That's when it will be your turn. I'm sorry there wasn't someone there for you when you needed them. You're in my prayers.