Gore's Son Sentenced to Drug Program

Guardian ^ | 2/2/04 | Stephen Manning

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Md. (AP) - The 21-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore must complete substance abuse counseling as part of a pretrial diversion program to settle a marijuana possession charge.

The agreement approved by a judge Monday calls for the misdemeanor charge to be dropped after a year if Albert Gore III submits to urine testing, community service and counseling, and steers clear of criminal convictions.

The younger Gore, who attends Harvard University, had no comment after the brief hearing. He was accompanied by his mother, Tipper Gore, who did not comment other than saying the issue was a ``private matter.'' Gore did not have to enter a plea and his case was placed on the inactive docket.

The son of the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee was arrested Dec. 19, 2003, in Bethesda after an officer stopped him for driving without having his headlights on. The officer smelled marijuana and noticed the windows of the car were open despite frigid temperatures.

A search of the car turned up a partial marijuana cigarette, a cigarette box containing suspected marijuana and a crushed soda can that smelled like marijuana.

Gore was charged with marijuana possession, as were the two passengers in the car, Yann V. Kumin, 21, and Marc G. Hordon, 22, both of Cambridge, Mass.

Hordon and Kumin will undergo the same treatment program as Gore, prosecutor Douglas Gansler said.

He said no favoritism was shown Gore because of his family's political stature.

``Regardless of who the defendant is ... we treat them in the exact same way,'' Gansler said.

The younger Gore had been stopped by police twice before in recent years. He was ticketed by military police in September 2002 outside Fort Myer in suburban Virginia for driving under the influence.

North Carolina police cited Gore in the summer of 2000 for driving 97 mph in a 55 mph zone. Charges were dropped but he had to pay a $125 ticket and his driving privileges were suspended in the state.

[martin_fierro]

Ping

[camle]

hey! if he was my dad, i'd probably be on drugs too!

[martin_fierro]

I heard that Gore III was going to plead to one count of Felony A$$holery.

The prosecutor's office leaked it.

[lilylangtree]

If this were a Bush instead of a Gore, the news would be front page in huge letters.

[newgeezer]

I think I see a Presidency in his future.

[CalKat]

It's more newsworthy if a president's child gets into trouble than if a former vice-president's child gets into trouble. And I bet if my kid got in trouble, it wouldn't make ANY papers.

[OXENinFLA]

Tipper Gore, who did not comment other than saying the issue was a ``private matter.''

HUmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Kinda like being able to LISTEN TO ANY KIND OF MUSIC I LIKE WITHOUT THE GOV'T STICKING THEIR NOSE IN IT??????

[Texagirl4W]

"The younger Gore, who attends Harvard University, had no comment after the brief hearing. He was accompanied by his mother, Tipper Gore, who did not comment other than saying the issue was a ``private matter.'' Gore did not have to enter a plea and his case was placed on the inactive docket."

---

A private matter? But a 25 year old DWI ticket by President Bush was a BIG ISSUE when gore ran against President Bush.

[NotchJohnson]

Ask what GW's daughter got caught for, and Jor Anybody would know. Ask them about this and they hav eno idea. As for driving 97 mph, come on.

[CalKat]

Don't you think this would be a valid issue if the Gore kid decides to run for office some day?

[misterrob]

And I think we should practice what we preach and leave offspring out of it. I get annoyed when I read about the Bush girls' partying and tying it back to the parents when these young women are adults.

[waterstraat]

I thought gore supported the War on Drugs, he should be sent to prison. Why have marijuanna illegal, why waste the police time, and the time of the courts and judges, if nobody goes to prison for it?

You arent going to stop people from using marijuanna by NOT putting them in prison when they do get caught.

[Seruzawa]

You can't make this stuff up.

[SwinneySwitch]

Sounds like a "private matter", about like under age drinking! Wonder why I haven't heard about Albert III before this?

[holdonnow]

Lucky for young Albert. He doesn't live in Palm Beach County. Otherwise, we'd have his medical records, and he's be facing felony charges.

[Protagoras]

His father was a huge pot head for years (probably still is) so it's no surprise that he went the same way. Tipper probably was as well.

[Texagirl4W]

Not if he stays clean for 25 years.

[cynicom]

Private matter?????? The kid is a criminal, he broke the law, that is why he is being punished. Tipper has no more brains than Al.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Good move.

Now, what's his father's excuse?

[radiohead]

Kinda like being able to LISTEN TO ANY KIND OF MUSIC I LIKE WITHOUT THE GOV'T STICKING THEIR NOSE IN IT??????

Touche!

[Khurkris]

The 21-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore must complete substance abuse counseling as part of a pretrial diversion program to settle a marijuana possession charge.

Classes to include:
1. 1-paper rolling 101.
2. Pipe Etiquette 202.
3. Bongwater - changing and uses 103.
3. Pipe Cleaning - how often and why 202.
4. Munchies - Is ATKINS possible? 401.
5. ISD's - Improvised Smoking Devices 104.
6. Visine - when and why 201.
6. Reefer Breath - myth or giveaway? 202.
7. Speed Limits - can you really go too slow? 303.

[GigaDittos]

Uh, are they gonna let Rush Limbaugh off the hook now?

[JesseHousman]

Gore's Son Sentenced to Drug Program

Just think. Soon we'll all be able to get all the drugs we want with funds for which the federales mugged middle and upper class America to get.

Is this a great country or what?

[Swede Girl]

He never seemed to be bright enough to get into Harvard....and I am sure that he never would have without his daddy's name. Daddy was never all that bright, either. This does not speak well for Harvard.

[Some hope remaining.]

Like father like son

[nmh]

With Al Gore as a father ... is it sruprising that his son resorted to drugs to escape him? Will Al be joining him?

[Tacis]

It is a good thing the kid goes to school in Boston. Kerry-Kennedy have alerted the cops in Boston and Cambridge about this and you can be sure that no Gore kid will be hassled up there about a little recreational MJ.

[Helms]

Ha!!! and Harvard probably thought they had accepted a future "President"'s son. Punishment being called AL Gore III:

[nmh]

"Don't you think this would be a valid issue if the Gore kid decides to run for office some day?"

It's as valid as any other news item.

Watch the creep run for office. Bet the first thing he'll do is point to himself as a victim and want to legalize drugs so other druggies won't have to endure what he endured trying to disassociate himself from dear old Dad - Al Gore.

[JustPlainJoe]

Gee, where was THIS on the major news channnels? HMMMMMM???

[Cobra64]

I think I see a Presidency in his future.

Yup. He was on his way to Clinton's hangout for "Presidential" advice while toking a joint.

[samanella]

Did he inhale?

[Howlin]

Wonder why I haven't heard about Albert III before this

Stick around FR; this isn't his FIRST brush with the law, for drugs AND for drinking and driving.

He never, ever gets any punishment.

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Gee, where was THIS on the major news channnels? HMMMMMM???

Why would it be? AlGORE's irrelevant. If Gore were in the White House (shudder) or VP, this would be "news." Gore's a hasbeen who has no power even over his own party anymore.

[OldFriend]

Not to worry, Harvard will give him passing grades whether he attends classes or not.

[OldFriend]

Anyone doubt that the Gore's smoked pot in the home when their children were growing up.

[headsonpikes]

Just, like, wow, man.....;^)

WTH is that, a quarter-pounder?!?

[joesnuffy]

WOW ...he's not in the military fighting for his country...or his family honor.....???

[Keith in Iowa]

I want AlGore's evil spawn to be treated exactly like Rush Limbaugh is being treated...

[albee]

What were you trying to convey in your incoherent post?

"...Ask what GW's daughter got caught for, and Jor Anybody would know. Ask them about this and they hav eno idea. As for driving 97 mph, come on."

[Jonah Hex]

I know the highway he was ticketed for speeding, between VaBeach and Nags Head. Doing 97 on that stretch should be a felony!!

[oyez]

Gore had been stopped by police twice before in recent years

Many with law enforcement experience will tell there is a definite pattern developing about young Gore and the next time we read about him in the papers the situation is likely to be a lot more serious.

[BushisTheMan]

So why did the Guardian have this and no US papers?

No need to answer, it's blatently obvious.

[SpinyNorman]

Must have gotten into Daddy's thai stick collection.

[weegee]

Deferred adjudication is wonderful. Keep your nose clean for a specified period and all charges are dropped. Next time you get charged you see the judge with a clean slate as "first time offender" again.

Meanwhile the question comes up; just who's pot was it? If someone had done the honorable thing and stepped forward to claim it, the 3 people in the car that Albert was driving wouldn't have gone to jail. Now they've all got records.

[Darlin']

Hummmmm, I see this was in the Guardian, in London. Wonder if this story made any U.S. papers at all. It sure is a far cry from the blizzard of coverage the twins received.