As Steve noted in Good Morning News, the National Enquirer reports that Al Gore was accused of attacking a masseuse here in Portland in 2006.

Turns out there could be some truth to this story—and there's definitely been a real investigation. Today, for the first time, the Portland Police Bureau told the county District Attorney that it investigated the allegations as recently as last year.

This just in from the District Attorney's office:

In late 2006 and January 2007 this office was briefed by the Portland Police Bureau on allegations that were brought to it by an attorney representing a woman who alleged unwanted sexual contact by Al Gore. We were told the woman was not willing to be interviewed by the Portland Police Bureau and did not want a criminal investigation to proceed.

About a year after this event, our office was aware that a public records request from the media regarding this matter had been granted by the Portland Police Bureau.

Today our office was notified by the Portland Police Bureau that further investigation of this matter had been conducted by it in 2009 and we were provided with the reports from that further investigation.

If the complainant and the Portland Police Bureau wish to pursue the possibility of a criminal prosecution, additional investigation by the Bureau will be necessary and will be discussed with the Portland Police Bureau.

Looks like somebody (the DA, the police bureau, or both) is rushing to make sure nobody thinks they ignored real allegations.

We've asked for access to these reports. Thanks, National Enquirer!

Update 3:34: The Tribune has a story, and copies of the original police reports. Those were requested by the Tribune after the alleged incident, although that paper decided not to publish a story. The masseuse's claims were declined by the Secret Service, the FBI and the Oregon State Police, and referred to the Portland Police Bureau. Eventually, the masseuse declined to report a crime or cooperate, and part of the reason for the Tribune's decision not to report on it was the accuser's reluctance to have her name printed, according to the paper.

District Attorney spokesman Norm Frink says that today, in response to the Enquirer article, people started calling his office asking for more information. Also today, the Police Bureau told the DA's office that they had conducted the followup investigation. We're waiting on a copy of that report. "The question is what, if anything, is done now," says Frink. "That depends on the complainant."