Oregon's attorney
general has been asked to investigate whether Portland
mayor Sam Adams had a sexual relationship with a former
legislative intern when the intern was a minor.
Portland police chief Rosie Sizer made the request by
letter to Atty. Gen. John Kroger, according to The Oregonian.
During the
mayoral campaign in 2007, Adams denied allegations of the
relationship with Beau Breedlove, who was 17 when the two
reportedly met in 2005. Adams admitted to the affair
last week, but said the relationship turned
intimate only after Breedlove turned 18.
"As presented to
the public, the facts could lead some to question
whether criminal laws have been violated," Sizer wrote.
"Without expressing any opinion as to whether they
have, we have concluded that an investigation to
answer that question is warranted." Sizer also urged
that the examination remain impartial and that detectives
higher than local police conduct the investigation.
Adams faces a
possible felony charge of second-degree sexual abuse and
misdemeanors of third-degree sexual abuse, contributing to
the sexual delinquency of a minor and sexual
misconduct.
Adams was sworn
in earlier this month, making him the first openly gay
mayor of a major U.S. city. (Michelle Garcia, Advocate.com)
