Molly Hagerty: Al Gore A 'Pervert And Sexual Predator'

The National Enquirer could be breaking open another sex scandal involving a former top Democratic presidential candidate.

On the heels of uncovering an affair by John Edwards, the weekly tabloid has been reporting on allegations that former Vice President Al Gore made "unwanted sexual contact" with a Portland massage therapist.

A healthy dose of skepticism greeted the claim made in last week's edition. The accuser waited more than two years to report the 2006 incident to authorities, who didn't feel they received enough information to press charges. A police report seemed to clear Gore, stating, "This case is exceptionally cleared as (the woman) refuses to cooperate with the investigation or even report a crime."

The simmering story could erupt in a full boil, as Radar Online has revealed that the previously anonymous masseuse will allow herself to be identified as Molly Hagerty in this week's National Enquirer:

She has now stepped forward and is putting her name to the accusations against Gore. "Al Gore is a pervert and sexual predator. He's not what people think he is. He's a sick man," she tells the Enquirer.

Radar also says that the article will include an interview with a friend of Hagerty who spoke with her shortly before and after the alleged incident.

Last week, National Enquirer executive editor Barry Levine told the Washington Post that they did not pay the accuser even though she asked for $1 million. Asked whether he had concerns about the woman's story, Levin "said he had former police officers examine the reports to make sure they weren't a 'forgery' and felt 'vindicated' Thursday when Portland authorities confirmed the authenticity of the documents."

The Associated Press previously reported:

An attorney representing the woman contacted police in late 2006, said Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk. Schrunk said the woman - who has not been identified - refused to be interviewed by detectives and did not want the investigation to proceed.

The woman, however, contacted police in January 2009 and gave a statement, saying Gore tried to have sex with her during an appointment at the upscale downtown Hotel Lucia, where Gore was reportedly registered as "Mr. Stone."
...

A police report prepared in 2007 said the alleged incident occurred Oct. 24, 2006. Gore was in Portland to deliver a speech on climate change.

...

The case reopened in January 2009. Detectives interviewed the woman but determined there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations, Portland police said in a news release.

In a transcript of the interview released by police, the massage therapist said she had an appointment with "Mr. Stone" at 10:30 p.m. but the hotel's front desk told her he wouldn't be available until 11 p.m. When she knocked on the door, Al Gore opened it, and when she asked what she should call him, he replied to "Call me Al," the woman told police.

She said she was doing requested abdominal work on Gore when he started to moan and demanded she go lower.

"I was shocked, and I did not massage beyond what is considered a safe, nonsexual area of the abdomen," she said. "He further insisted and acted angry, becoming verbally sharp and loud.

"I went into much deeper shock as I realized it appeared he was demanding sexual favors or sexual behaviors."

The woman said Gore grabbed her hand and shoved it toward his pubic area. She alleged he later tried to have sex with her and began caressing her before she squirmed out of his grasp.

"I did not immediately call the police as I feared being made into a public spectacle and my reputation being destroyed," she said. "I was not sure what to tell them and was concerned my story would not be believed since there was no DNA evidence from a completed act of rape. I did not even know what to call what had happened to me."

Detective Mary Wheat, a Portland police spokeswoman, said the woman contacted detectives this month and asked for a copy of her statement. The woman, according to Wheat, said she planned to take her case to the media.

Comments

[Petras24]

05:19 AM on 07/04/2010

So Gore joins his top Democrat friends Clinton, Edwards, and Kennedy as a potential serial adulterer.

Contrast their behavior with the likes of Bush or Cheny ?

Why do all the supposedly feminist Democratic leaders treat women so badly ?

[Todays Illusion]

08:25 PM on 07/01/2010

But here is the fact.
The conservatives behind the Republican Party,
Have now made this fake story part of the nations narrative.

Like the fake Acorn exposure.

Lies lies lies lies
and on and on and on they go.

[godivademaus]

06:40 PM on 07/01/2010

At the risk of sounding cynical, I think this scandal might prove to be the best image improver for Al Gore! Don't you all remember how everyone made fun of his academic and uninteresting speaking style, his lack of pzazz, verve and energy? Well, move over, there's a NEW Al Gore in town, thanks to a gold-digging masseuse and political hag.

Personally, I think her story doesn't pass the smell test -- but this might be the gift that keeps on giving for Al Gore. He's no longer in politics, he's an oscar winning filmmaker, he's a producer and an author. Before this story, his star appeal was dying out -- he probably wouldn't be able to give away tickets to his new films. But NOW, move over red carpet!

[fumes]

07:37 PM on 07/01/2010

al?

is that you lol?

[shirely u gest]

06:35 PM on 07/01/2010

Read the hilarious expose' novel The Psalm of Psaint Mabel by Emma Mackin about the life of a Finnish masseuse dealing with the men-with-money syndrome and see if you believe it more possible. Get the book from your library loan program.
Al Gore seems an unlikely groper, and a good massage is better than what "Mr. Stone" apparently wanted.

[Barnicle23]

05:30 PM on 07/01/2010

Im not buying it, especially with that 1million dollar price tag she attached to this "perverted and horrifying" story. If that's really what happened wouldn't she want to get him, money or not, so that other women don't go through this as well? Also, why not just leave the room when he tries to make you grab his "mini Al"?

[Gesundheit 451]

05:26 PM on 07/01/2010

I think when this woman is investigated we'll find that she's another right-wing cuckoo who has been put up to make false accusations. And please ladies, I do not in any way support the mis-treatment of women. What I am saying is that the timing of this is very suspicious, especially given the recent split announced by the Gores. Tipper is standing with Al, and I don't see a strong woman like her doing that if what the accuser said is true. If the accuser isn't connected with some group, then I think she's just trying to get money, as evidenced by her request for $1 million from the Enquirer. My guess is that she gave the VP a massage without incident, and then filed a report without pursuing it to make use of it later. The problem is, she didn't follow up on it at the time. Her excuse is that she didn't want the media attention, but now she's suddenly ok with that. I can't believe I'm the only one who finds this suspicious. And I'm suspect of any so-called "friend" that's happens to be a witness before AND after the alleged event. If that's not a classic set-up, I don't know what is. It sounds like a variation on the out of town businessman caught in a hotelroom with a woman who's "boyfriend" suddenly bursts into the room and demands money. And anyone can file a police report. That's not proof of anything.

[Todays Illusion]

08:21 PM on 07/01/2010

This sounds like a James O'Keefe type whopper.

very conviently brought to light in a campaign year.

[tjirish44]

05:01 PM on 07/03/2010

I don't get the politico implication. Gore is not running for any office.

[Steve Marinucci]

11:48 AM on 07/01/2010

Waiting such a long time to report this incident is suspicious enough. Not being a professional and leaving the room straight away at the first sign of something wrong is another. These two things really hurt the believability of her story.

[MsRothschild]

11:42 AM on 07/01/2010

My reaction is I wish he threw me down on the bed after I massaged his entire body.
He's goregeous.

[Classof89]

11:19 AM on 07/01/2010

Gloria Allred chase her down yet?

[Donsta]

10:04 AM on 07/01/2010

I know someone that does massage therapy. She tells me that she gets asked to give a happy ending on a fairly regular basis. So when this therapist is shocked to get a sexual request it makes me suspicious.

[AbeMartin]

07:31 AM on 07/01/2010

I am absolutely certain that Mr. Gore has access to dozens of female "friends" who would be more than happy to give him a therapeutic and "relaxing" massage and maintain his confidentiality for free. The reports on MSNBC today, about video evidence and DNA brings back unpleasant memories of a certain blue dress, interns and a former Pentagon employee who sought out opportunities to destroy both Clinton and Bush I. As Gore was deeply involved in keeping the day-to-day business of the White House moving forward during the impeachment and trial, he would be extremely wary about allowing himself be targeted in this way. This reeks of hoax

Don't forget that although Gore had the 2000 Presidential election stolen from him in one of the most disgusting political conspiracies in US history, that he still remains a viable candidate in 2012 or 2016, should Obama be elected to a second term. The Repugnicans are masters at the pre-emptive destruction of potential candidates through the use of Dirty Tricks and sexual and racist innuendo. This story sounds about as believable as the allegations of sexual misconduct made by various GOP ops about Nikki Haley, the South Carolina gubernatorial candidate.

[anotherwomanfromva]

08:44 AM on 07/01/2010

Agreed. This is just more dirty politics to refute Al Gore's work on climate change. Nothing more. A case that didn't warrant an investigation in 2006 NOW needs to be reopened. Seriously, I hate when women make up or exaggerate sexual assaults, it makes it so much harder on real assault victims.

[trebledamages]

07:13 AM on 07/01/2010

I feel for Al. For $500, all he got was a massage with a "sad" ending!

[DarkHorses]

07:04 AM on 07/01/2010

$500 for a massage? $400 for a haircut?
And these were people seriously considered to oversee the economy?

[Soulsurfer]

07:58 AM on 07/01/2010

As you can see by the story, famous or extra wealthy people are open to this kind of attack for any service they use. So, pay extra for the service in the hopes that it will suffice for their 15 minutes of fame.

[500 a]

02:25 AM on 07/01/2010

I don't know what happened. Ms. Hagerty waited two years to report the report the incident. She is a massage therapist who is over 50. I assume she must be aware of the need to be safe in her profession. Yet she stayed when he acted oddly and wanted her to massage in private areas. I don't understand why she didn't run out of the hotel room and go to the front desk and have the police come. She didn't say that he tried to prevent her from leaving. Why did she stay if he kept coming on to her (assuming she is truthful)? That's why it seems odd to me. The Enquirer had the story on the John Edwards baby, so who knows anymore.

[kennyfasugbe]

02:02 AM on 07/01/2010

Sorry, I had to repost because of editing...

massages usually bring arousal in men and women too. Only that with men, we can't hide it. If your job is to give massages, I dont' care how upscale or professional you are, you must be pretty used to men getting aroused during massages. It is more like if you were a mechanic be prepared to get oiled up. The question now becomes, did Mr. Gore really persist as she claimed? And if I have to answer, I would say, I don't know, because I was not there. And since no body was truly there and she waited more than two years to finally report a case, and in the process was asking for a cool million for it, i would say, in the name of justice, THROW IT OUT OF COURT if it ever makes it there. It lacks merit just as the police authority had said before.

[angelrubes]

02:33 AM on 07/01/2010

Actually, not so. For years when I first entered the medical field, I was a certified Massage Therapist. Sometimes men become aroused, but I never noticed it because they were sheet draped all of the time and it is taught that the sheet should be loosely draped, not pulled tight.

I however have other issues with her story. Making an appointment for a "therapeutic massage," or "professional non sexual massage," at 10:30 at night....hum-mm. When walking in, "What should I call you????" Come on...you know he's Former Vice President Gore, you either call him Mr. Vice President, or Mr. Gore. And the very first time someone suggests that you go to an inappropriate area, you stop the massage, and state clearly and strongly, THIS MASSAGE IS OVER I am leaving the room, please get dressed so I may get my table thank you!!!." Walk out of the room. And, if you don't feel safe waiting for the table outside of the room, ask someone from the desk to help you take your table from the room to the car.

That small smidgeon of a story has so many holes I can drive a truck through it.

[foofoobunny]

08:48 AM on 07/01/2010

I have serious issue with her story too.

[FaceReality2]

04:07 AM on 07/01/2010

"usually"

No. Not by the LMTs who have pounded on me.