DA Schrunk: Gore won’t be prosecuted

UPDATE: Former vice president pleased alleged assault case has been resolved

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Jul 30, 2010, Updated Jul 30, 2010 (3 Reader comments)

Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk has decided not to prosecute former Vice President Al Gore for sexual assault.

In a Friday memo, Schrunk said he agreed with the conclusions of a Portland police investigation that a “sustainable criminal case does not exist.”

Gore said Friday afternoon that he was pleased that the police investigation concluded there was no basis for prosecution.

"Mr. Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago," Gore's spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said Friday. "He respects and appreciates the thorough and professional work of the Portland authorities and is pleased that this matter has now been resolved."

Portland masseuse Molly Hagerty has alleged that Gore assaulted her in a downtown hotel room on Oct. 24, 2006. According to Hagerty, Gore touched her inappropriately after she responded to his request for a massage while staying at the Hotel Lucia.

• Click here to read the 180 pages of police investigation documents (beware: this is a big pdf file!)

• Click here to read the DA’s memo on the investigation.

Hagerty’s story was reported this month by the National Enquirer, in which she claimed she has physical evidence against Gore in the form of a semen-stained pants. Tests of the pants, however, revealed that the spot was not semen.

Schrunk cited numerous problems with a potential prosecution, however, including “contradictory evidence, conflicting witness statements, credibility issues, a lack of forensic evidence and denials by Gore,” who was interviewed by police detectives last week.

Among other things, Schrunk said Hagerty failed a polygraph test, failed to provide other records to investigators and was apparently paid by the National Enquirer for her story.

Schrunk said forensic tests on Hagerty’s pants are negative for the presence of seminal fluid. Hotel employees also contradicted her account of being upset when she left the hotel.

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