Al Gore Accuser: Paid to Tell Her Story?

We reported her accusations in graphic detail last week, but Molly Hagerty, Al Gore's sexual assault accuser, faces myriad questions about her credibility.

Namely, that she went shopping her story for money years after the fact.

Police in Portland, Ore., announced that they are reopening the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against former the former Vice President.

The accusation of unwanted sexual contact came from massage therapist Molly Hagerty, who was called to his hotel room at 4 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2006.

Gore says he received a massage, but denies acting inappropriately. Hagerty says that he repeatedly forced himself upon her, despite her objections.

He was never charged and the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. It's being reviewed, but there are reasons to be suspicious of Hagerty:

Why didn't she just leave?

She said she feared she would be raped, a somewhat dubious claim in itself, or "accosted by some security detail," when Gore had no detail that night.

Why did she wait weeks to make her initial complaint to police?

Hagerty waited six weeks to mention this, but she contends she told her friends immediately, and police may be interested in interviewing those people.

Why did she cancel interviews with police regarding the case?

Hagerty nixed three interviews with detectives about her criminal complaint. Three years later, Hagerty changed her mind again and decided to pursue it.

Did she receive money to tell her story?

The million-dollar question, possibly literally. Hagerty has twice been interviewed by the National Enquirer, which unabashedly and routinely pays sources.

As the Rielle Hunter-John Edwards and Tiger Woods-Rachel Uchitel scandals prove, that doesn't mean they lie. But it does make you question motive.

Posted in: Al Gore,Molly Hagerty