Enquirer: Masseuse wanted $1M for her story
PORTLAND, Ore. - Just when you thought the scandal surrounding former Vice President Al Gore couldn't get any more juicy, now comes word that the woman at the center of it all was looking for a $1 million payout, according to the tabloid that broke the story.
The allegations against the former Vice President exploded this week when the National Enquirer reported that the former Vice President had attacked a Portland masseuse at a local upscale hotel back in 2006.
The Enquirer is known for stretching the truth, but both the Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office confirmed the allegation. Both released statements concerning the story and the Portland Police Bureau even released the actual police report, all of which are available online in our previous story 'Tabloid claims Al Gore assaulted Portland masseuse.'
According to Barry Levine, Executive Editor of the National Enquirer, after the magazine followed up on a tip and tracked down the woman, she requested $1 million for her story. But Levine said there never was a deal between the two parties and no money exchanged hands.
The New York Post is in on the story now as well, saying they have a source that the woman is currently shopping around for a $1 million deal.
While some people might wonder about her credibility upon hearing that, a close friend of the woman is defending her.
"She wants him accountable," said Donna Burleigh. "She don't want his money. She wants him to admit to his wrong."
We tried to ask the woman herself about this in person, on the phone and via text and email but she has not responded. We know who she is but because she may be a victim of sexual abuse, we are not identifying her publicly.
On Friday, the Portland Police Bureau released an audio recording of the interview between a detective and the massage therapist. The woman spoke with Detective Molly Daul in January 2009 - two years after she canceled three appointments to meet with investigators.
During the interview, the massage therapist describes Gore as a "crazed sex poodle" as she details the moves he made during a late-night appointment at a downtown Portland hotel. Police declined to file charges against Gore, saying there was insufficient evidence.
Click on the "Video" tab at the top of this story to hear excerpts from the audio.