Al Gore accused of ‘unwanted sexual contact’ by masseuse

A PORTLAND massage therapist accused former US 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.

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, identifying the accuser as a 54-year-old woman.

Gore family spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said the former vice president has no comment. Gore and his wife Tipper announced on June 1 they were separating.

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

The woman cancelled two appointments with detectives that year. Her attorney cancelled another meeting scheduled for January 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 to support the allegations, Portland police said.

In a transcript of the interview released by police, the woman said she had an appointment with Mr Stone and when she knocked on the door, Al Gore opened it, and when she asked what she should call him, he replied “Call me Al.”

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. “He further insisted and acted angry, becoming verbally sharp and loud.

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

“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.”