RUTHFULLY YOURS

Police in Portland, Ore., are reopening an investigation over allegations that former Vice President Al Gore fondled a masseuse in a hotel in 2006.

The city’s Police Bureau disclosed the move in a brief statement Wednesday, but did not explain the decision to reopen the investigation. The police said they would not comment further.

Allegations in the case were described by the National Enquirer last week. After the article was published, the Police Bureau said it “does not consider this an ongoing investigation unless new evidence is received in this case.”

The Enquirer followed up with more details this week, stating among other things that the masseuse has hotel video footage and DNA evidence that could be used in the investigation.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Gore said the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner denies the allegations.

“Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore,” said spokeswoman Kalee Kreider. “The Gores cannot comment on every defamatory, misleading, and inaccurate story generated by tabloids. Mr. Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago. He stands by that denial.”

The alleged victim could not be reached for comment.

Portland police spokeswoman Mary Wheat said a lawyer for the masseuse contacted authorities after the incident in 2006. Police set up three interviews with the accuser, but the lawyer canceled each interview, Ms. Wheat said.

The masseuse contacted police again in January 2009 and police interviewed her, Ms. Wheat said. According to a 67-page transcript of the conversation that the police posted online, the masseuse said that on Oct. 24, 2006, Mr. Gore hired her for a massage in his room at the upscale Hotel Lucia in downtown Portland.

The masseuse told police that Mr. Gore groped her and tried to get her to have sex with him before she could leave, she said, according to the transcript.

Mr. Gore, 62 years old, narrowly lost the 2000 presidential election and since then has become a champion of climate-change issues. He announced in early June that he was separating from Tipper, his wife of 40 years.