Portland will not investigate allegations that former Mayor Sam Adams made sexually inappropriate comments and frequent attempts at drunk driving when he was mayor because the alleged conduct took place too long ago and Adams is no longer a city employee.

That information was disclosed in emails from the city attorney's office obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive last week.

Adams' former executive assistant, Cevero Gonzalez, emailed Portland's commissioners on Nov. 2 alleging that the former mayor asked him uncomfortable questions such as when the last time he "got laid" was, what positions he preferred during sex and questions about male body parts.

Adams denied the allegations in a November text to The Oregonian/OregonLive and said that he would "gladly participate" in an investigation.

But Portland City Attorney Tracy Reeve told Gonzalez in a Nov. 9 email obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive that too much time has passed for the city to investigate the allegations. The Portland Mercury first reported the city's decision to not investigate.

"Mr. Adams is no longer affiliated with the city," Reeve wrote in the email to Gonzalez. "Given this, and given the passage of time, it appears unlikely that there is any legal avenue now open to the city to address the concerns you raise."

In her email, Reeve invited Gonzalez to meet with city attorneys to discuss his concerns and what he actions he hopes the city will take.

"We want to make sure we are fully apprised of both your concerns and any thoughts or recommendations you may (have) for the city going forward," Reeve wrote.

Gonzalez declined to meet with city attorneys, asserting that by not further investigating the city chose to "reaffirm a response that victims of abuse are all too often provided: there is nothing more to be done."

"While I appreciate your offer to meet to discuss my concerns in greater detail, I have little confidence that any substantive, meaningful or necessary conversations will occur unless an outside party investigates this matter further," Gonzalez wrote to the city attorney.

Reeve told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an email Thursday that the conduct Gonzalez alleged would have violated city rules in place at the time and the accusations would have been investigated had they "been reported." Reeve noted that Gonzalez received training on the city's anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, "including his ability to make reports outside his own office if he didn't feel comfortable reporting to his supervisor."

Gonzalez told the city attorney in an email that he did report the behavior to his supervisors, Tom Miller and Jennifer Yocom, but they dismissed his concerns. Miller said in November that Gonzalez never told him about inappropriate behavior. Yocom could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.

Gonzales told the city attorney that he was "shocked and saddened" that his statement had gotten out to the public.

He said the email that he wrote to eight top city officials' public email addresses was "intended solely for review by city of Portland staff." Public employees' emails are public records unless there is a specific provision in the law, such as for records containing private medical information, that allows them to be kept confidential.

--Jessica Floum

503-221-8306