Gore accused of sexual assault? (Sorry, this Enquirer report lacks credibility)

Hotair ^ | 06/24/2010 | Ed Morrissey

[SeekAndFind]

Yes, I know that few political figures on the Left are more disliked than Al Gore, for a number of reasons, not least of which is the ingracious and destructive campaign Gore launched in Florida that has colored American politics ever since. He also routinely blasted the Bush administration on the war while demanding action on climate change, and at the same time fattened his own pocketbook and lived a carbon-emission-rich lifestyle. He’s not a terribly likable figure, but at the same time, this seems very suspicious to me:

Former Vice President Al Gore was accused of “unwanted sexual contact” by a massage therapist in 2006, law enforcement officials said Wednesday, noting that no charges were filed.

In a written statement, the Portland police said “the case was not investigated any further because detectives concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations.”

The statement followed a report in the National Enquirer, which broke the story, and then in the Portland Oregonian, which had earlier decided not to publish it because it could not document it.

Essentially, the story is that Gore wanted a “happy ending” with his massage in 2006, and his legitimate masseuse refused to give it. She alleges that Gore grabbed her hand and attempted to get his game on, and that he became verbally abusive when she refused. There were no witnesses to this incident, which at best makes for a “he said, she said” case, even at that time.

This story began floating to the surface earlier this week, and I’ve been getting e-mail about it since yesterday. The story looks very suspicious, for a couple of reasons. According to the police, the woman reported the incident at the time but refused to press charges, apparently unwilling to be named in the press and get attacked for her accusation. Now, several years later, she returned because she wanted to take the case to the media. That hardly instills confidence in the credibility of the accuser.

Perhaps the story is true, and Gore did assault the masseuse. However, I’d put a lot more stock in the accusation had she gone to a legitimate news organization rather than the National Enquirer (like the Oregonian, which asked her to come forward earlier), revealed her name, and publicly stood by the accusation, instead of hiding for four years only to sell the story to a tabloid. As much as I dislike Al Gore politically, this looks like a smear job.

[Pete]

Smoking Gun has the police report. Pretty graphic. He is a slime ball and a potential rapist.

[Mmogamer]

They didn’t mention the rumored affair..

[ilovesarah2012]

If she has DNA evidence, Gore may be in trouble. And I can understand her not wanting to be humiliated in the media like Paula Jones and others. I would believe the woman over Gore any day. We already know he is a liar. And the divorce - maybe Tipper knows more than we do.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

this Enquirer report lacks credibility

I don't know. He probably saw that it worked for his boss and thought..."Why not?"

[Spok]

An accusation lacking credibility never stopped the left and MSM from using it to destroy a Republican.

[ETL]

Accuser: Gore Demanded 'Sexual Behaviors' (disturbing details reminiscent of Bill Clinton)
NewsCore via FoxNews.com ^ | June 24, 2010

Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 10:29:35 AM by 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

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...

[dfwgator]

I don’t believe the story, because it has him sexually harassing a woman.

[sauropod]

Smear job by who?

He’s beloved by the Left.

[1000 silverlings]

there’s something on Drudge about him attacking a poodle. Maybe Tipper’s

[Sloth]

Having read the account on the Smoking Gun... it has the ring of truth.

[bobby.223]

BTCBE.

[sodpoodle]

Men who have not attempted to rape women just don’t get it and women who have never been victims of attempted or actual rape prefer to believe *it could never happen to me*.

Her description is very much like discussions I have had with women whose memories for detail are as if it happened yesterday.

Her account is full of minutiae which would be difficult to manufacture.

I believe her story.

Her actions following the assault are also understandable - she is experiencing precisely what she feared if she complained: i.e. being called a liar - because the perp is a liberal icon.

[Venturer]

>>>>>>I don’t believe the story, because it has him sexually harassing a woman.<<<<<<<<<

That’s my problem with it too.

Gore appears asexual to me.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

“Perhaps the story is true, and Gore did assault the masseuse. However, I’d put a lot more stock in the accusation had she gone to a legitimate news organization”

Dear Ed, the Portland Tribune had the story 10 years ago and felt the need to deep six it. Also, the woman says she saved the evidence. Where ever did she get that idea? Women in the presence of dem pols seem strangely attracted to embarassing themselves by telling whoopers concerning the pols (no pun intended) carnal desires towards them. Clearly the women suffer from IHTT (I’d Hit That Twice) syndrome.

[Mr. K]

unlike the reports against Haley (a republican) which were so substantial the press needed to give them 24/7 coverage!

Imagine that...

[dfwgator]

In fact, Gore may plant the story himself to squash to gay rumors.

[ETL]

From SmokingGun via FReeper SkyPilot...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2540747/posts?page=37#37

[Red Badger]

The Enquirer is more trustworthy that Rolling Stone, IMHO...................

[dfwgator]

Who needs Romance Novels, when you have this?