POLITICS: Gore Case; The Cops Screwed up!

Portland police say they reopened the Al Gore case because they found "procedural issues" with the 2009 investigation, reports the Oregonian. In a statement, the chief says detectives who dismissed the allegations should have consulted with higher-ups before doing so. "There should have been command level review at the time on the specifics of this case and decisions on whether the investigation should go forward."

The full statement (read it at Talking Points Memo) notes that the masseuse first contacted police in 2006 but then called off three subsequent scheduled meetings. The department dropped the case, deeming it futile without her cooperation. The woman, Molly Hagerty, then contacted the department again in 2009, but police (apparently below "command level") opted not to pursue the case after questioning her.