Molly Hagerty Visits the National Enquirer; Should Al Gore Be Worried?

Molly Hagerty, a massage therapist, has given the National Enquirer an exclusive interview claiming Al Gore sexually attacked her, while she was giving him a professional massage, in his Portland hotel room, as reported at USA Today. The tabloid found a 2006 police report that described Hagerty's version of the sexual assault, as reported at Gawker. It is alleged that Hagerty wanted 1 million for the interview. A photo of Hagerty holding a pair of her pants stained during the encounter appears on the cover of the Enquirer, and the tabloid states on the cover that there is more evidence including a key witness, DNA testing and video footage.

Did Molly Hagerty tell her story to a stupid, supermarket tabloid that can't be believed?

Al Gore is no longer in a position to worry about losing a political seat, but he has a reputation of being a loving husband who values his long-time marriage to Tipper and someone who is a caring person when it comes to the environment, the plight of the underclass, and God knows what else. When it comes to sexual abuse, no one would pick Al Gore as a candidate. Says Gore's spokesperson, "Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore. 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."

Further investigation into the alleged attack will only benefit Gore?

Get out your scorecards. So far the National Enquirer has reported sexual improprieties by at least three celebrities that all have proven to be true, and in a couple of cases, with devastating results.

They broke the affairs of Tiger Woods, John Edwards and Matt Lauer, for examples. Woods' affair with Rachel Uchitel, first reported by the Enquirer, opened the flood gates to a score of other mistresses, loss of sponsorship, loss of confidence and eventually a divorce for Tiger Woods. John Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter, first reported by the Enquirer, cost him a possible VP spot and his marriage. The reaction is to dismiss the Enquirer; meanwhile, the Enquirer has proven to be right in more cases than tabloid dissers would like to admit.

Will Molly Hagerty's accusations lead to reopening a case against Al Gore for sexual abuse?

Says legal analyst Dan Abrams, "It's hard to believe that now they have more evidence. The longer you get away from when something happened, the harder it is to prove." He has a point.

However, that doesn't mean the National Enquirer is going to stay silent just because time has passed. Clearly their goal is not to protect the accused, but to expose him or her even further. If they are a stupid, supermarket tabloid, why should we expect anything different?

Sources:

Al Gore breaks silence as police reopen sexual assault case, USA Today

Meet the Masseuse Who Says Al Gore Is a 'Crazed Sex Poodle', Gawker