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(CNN) -- Police in Portland, Oregon, say they have reopened their investigation into a massage therapist's allegation that former Vice President Al Gore had "unwanted sexual contact" with her in 2006, a police spokeswoman said Wednesday.
"The Portland Police Bureau has made the decision to re-open the case regarding the allegations brought forward against Mr. Al Gore," Detective Mary Wheat said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. "Consistent with our policy regarding open investigations, the Police Bureau will not be commenting on any additional specifics regarding this case at this time."
A renewed investigation "will only benefit Mr. Gore," said Kalee Kreider, a spokeswoman for the former vice president.
"The Gores cannot comment on every defamatory, misleading, and inaccurate story generated by tabloids," Kreider said. "Mr. Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago. He stands by that denial."
The therapist told police in a prepared statement in January 2009 that she was "repeatedly subjected to unwanted sexual touching" by Gore during an October 2006 massage she performed on the former vice president at his hotel room, Portland police disclosed last week.
The department concluded there was not enough evidence to bring charges against the former vice president. Police said her attorney had approached police in 2006, but she did not speak with detectives at that time.
The attorney told investigators in January 2007 that the accuser would pursue a civil case and "declined the assistance" of detectives. The Police Bureau said last week it disclosed the matter after a story on the complaint appeared in the tabloid National Enquirer.
Portland police did not explain why the case was being reopened nor did they release the woman's name.
But the National Enquirer identified her on its website as 54-year-old Molly Hagerty. The website includes a photo of a woman it identified as Hagerty and quotes from what the Enquirer said was an exclusive interview with her.
CNN policy is not to name the alleged victim in a sexual abuse case, unless the person comes forward publicly.
Source: CNN
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