In the month since Al and Tipper Gore announced their separation, they've become tabloid stars. There was gossip,
quickly shot down as "complete crap,"that Al had an affair, and another story that
Al is gay. Now, after a National Enquirer report yesterday, we have learned that a masseuse claims she was "subjected to unwanted sexual touching" by the former vice president at a Portland, Ore., hotel in 2006. This story made it into the mainstream media today after the Portland police released a 73-page
"confidential special report"on the masseuse's accusations.
No charges were ever brought, or apparently even contemplated, against Gore. There's no indication that he was ever contacted by the authorities. The case was closed for insufficient evidence after the woman initially refused to cooperate. Inexplicably in 2009, she returned and wanted to be interviewed by investigators. The police "confidential special report" is almost entirely her long statement. The DA's office didn't even know about this follow-up statement until yesterday. The police apparently didn't think it was important enough to forward to prosecutors. The Portland Tribune had the story two years ago but chose not to report it because it didn't meet the newspaper's standards for publication.
But all over the world today, there are headlines that make it sound like Gore is a sex-fiend criminal.
Woman accused Gore of unwanted sexual contact ... Gore mauled me, says masseuse ... Gore in sex probe ... Gore Accuser Paints Picture of Erratic, Forceful Man
We couldn't find this headline: Gore Reputation Smeared by Wild Media Reports of Woman's Unsubstantiated Claims.
Update: The masseuse originally told police she didn't want to complain because she was afraid her reputation would be destroyed. But then this month, she asked for a copy of her statement and said she was taking it to the media. She reportedly was thinking about suing Gore before going to the National Enquirer and asking for $1 million for her story.
