Police reopen case on 'grope' accusation against Al Gore

Former Vice President Al Gore stands by his denial that he made unwanted sexual advances toward a massage therapist in 2006.

Police announced Wednesday that they are reopening an investigation into an Oregon massage therapist's allegations that Gore groped her at an upscale hotel in 2006.

In a brief statement, the Portland Police Bureau did not say why it was reopening the investigation. Police earlier said they considered the case closed because there was no evidence.

Speaking of the probe, Kreider said that "Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore."

"The Gores cannot comment on every defamatory, misleading and inaccurate story generated by tabloids," she said.  

The masseuse alleges Gore made unwanted sexual advances during a massage appointment on 24 October, 2006, at the downtown Hotel Lucia, where Gore was reportedly registered as "Mr. Stone." Gore was in Portland to deliver a speech on climate change.

The story first broke when the National Enquirer reported the allegations a week ago..

Portland police last week said the woman's lawyer came to them with the allegations in 2006 but that the woman canceled appointments with detectives. The case was reopened in January 2009, when detectives interviewed the woman but determined there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations.

According to transcripts of the 2009 interview, the masseuse described the allegations at length. She said Gore groped, kissed and pinned her down on a bed. She told Gore he was acting like a "crazed sex poodle," according to the transcript.

The woman said she felt there would be consequences if she didn't cooperate.

"I feared that if I ran for the door to get out, I could or would be violently accosted by some security detail," she said. "I felt certain that any, even the smallest complaint from him to the hotel, could also destroy my work reputation."

While trying to pack up, she said Gore "wrapped me in an inescapable embrace," looked her in the eyes and touched her back, buttocks and breasts. She said she asked Gore to stop several times.

Gore and wife Tipper announced that they are separating on June 1 in an e-mail to friends.