Gore accused of sex pressure

PORTLAND – A Portland massage therapist accused former Vice President Al Gore of “unwanted sexual contact” at a hotel during an October 2006 visit, but no charges were filed due to lack of evidence, law officials said Wednesday.

An attorney representing the woman contacted police in late 2006, said Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk. Schrunk said the woman – who has not been identified – refused to be interviewed by detectives and did not want the investigation to proceed.

The woman, however, contacted police in January 2009 and gave a statement, saying Gore tried to have sex with her during an appointment at the upscale downtown Hotel Lucia, where Gore was reportedly registered as “Mr. Stone.”

The National Enquirer first reported the allegations Wednesday, identifying the accuser as a 54-year-old woman.

Gore family spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said the former vice president has no comment.

A police report prepared in 2007 said the alleged incident occurred Oct. 24, 2006. Gore was in Portland to deliver a speech.

The woman, according to the report, canceled appointments with detectives on Dec. 21 and 26 of that year. Her attorney canceled a meeting scheduled for Jan. 4 and said the matter would be handled civilly.

“This case is exceptionally cleared as (the woman) refuses to cooperate with the investigation or even report a crime,” the report states.

The case reopened in January 2009. Detectives interviewed the woman but determined there was insufficient evidence, Portland police said in a news release.

In a transcript of the interview released by police, the massage therapist said she had an appointment with “Mr. Stone” at 10:30 p.m. but the hotel’s front desk told her he wouldn’t be available until 11 p.m. When she knocked on the door, Gore opened it.

She said she was doing requested abdominal work on Gore when he 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. “He further insisted and acted angry, becoming verbally sharp and loud.

“I went into much deeper shock as I realized it appeared he was demanding sexual favors or sexual behaviors.”

The woman said Gore grabbed her hand and shoved it toward his pubic area. She alleged he began caressing her before she squirmed out of his grasp.

“I did not immediately call the police as I feared being made into a public spectacle and my reputation being destroyed,” she said. “I was not sure what to tell them and was concerned my story would not be believed since there was no DNA evidence from a completed act of rape. I did not even know what to call what had happened to me.”

Detective Mary Wheat, a Portland police spokeswoman, said the woman contacted detectives this month asking for a copy of her statement and saying she planned to take her case to the media.