Gaetz extortion scheme update: Court docs claim Alford lied about Iran hostage, Biden pardon

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A "factual basis for guilty plea" document released with the news release announcing Stephen Alford's admission that he tried to extort money from the family of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz reveals new information about the scheme.

Alford pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to one count of wire fraud. He faces up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 16.

Court documents state that if he had gone to trial, prosecutors would have convinced a jury he tried to extort $25 million from Gaetz's father, former state Senate President Don Gaetz, by telling him that the money would be used to rescue a man being held hostage in Iran.

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Also in return for the loan — which the would-be extortionist said would have been paid back from a reward offered for the safe return of Robert Levinson — Alford promised he could secure a pardon from President Joe Biden for Matt Gaetz, who remains the subject of a criminal investigation into allegations that include sex trafficking of a minor.

The congressman has not been charged and denies the allegations.

The factual basis for guilty plea document states that the FBI originally interviewed Don Gaetz about his contact with Alford and another person identified only as "Person A" on March 20.

Stephen Alford arrest mug from 2016
Stephen Alford arrest mug from 2016

It states that Gaetz had received a text four days earlier from "Person A" requesting a meeting to discuss "the current investigation and the indictment that is about to be filed against (Matt Gaetz)."

"I have a plan that can make his future legal and political problems go away," the document states, quoting the text message Gaetz received. "Last summer we located Robert Levinson in Iran and took two proof of life videos, but the U.S. government foiled our rescue attempts."

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In the text, the unidentified person tells Gaetz that one chance remained to rescue Levinson and "If you and (Matt Gaetz) are willing to help us privately and clandestinely obtain the release of Robert Levinson I will ensure that (Matt Gaetz) is on the plane that delivers Levinson to his family, thus making him the most sought after public figure in the world."

Matt Gaetz is not identified by name in the text of the legal documents.

The unidentified person spoke to Don Gaetz in the text of his "partner" — later identified as Alford — who would see to it that Matt Gaetz would receive a presidential pardon.

Alford would later tell Don Gaetz that when he was in prison for a previous offense he had "kept his mouth shut and did not implicate people who are now very high up in the government," so the Biden administration owed him a favor.

"He was going to use what was owed to him by the current administration to get (Matt Gaetz) pardoned or any investigation to cease," the document said.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks during a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department of Justice on Oct. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks during a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department of Justice on Oct. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Alford told Don Gaetz that he had seen grand jury testimony and "talked to one or two witnesses" about the investigation of allegations against Matt Gaetz.

"The FBI would not be this far along and the Justice Department would not have a grand jury involved if some of the facts aren't lining up the way they are lining up. They are strong facts," the statement quoted Alford as telling Don Gaetz. "I don't want to get into a discussion right now about who started this. ... If you fund this initial $5.5 million I give you my word I will sit down and tell you everything."

Alford told Don Gaetz, "The team that delivers Mr. Levinson to the president of the United States will strongly advocate that President Biden issue a presidential pardon, or instruct the Department of Justice to terminate any and all investigations involving (Matt Gaetz)," the document said. "The team has been assured by the president that he will strongly consider such matters because he considers the release of Robert Levinson a matter of national urgency."

Alford even indicated to Gaetz that he could convince Levinson himself to advocate on Matt Gaetz's behalf.

Confronted by FBI agents regarding his discussion with the elder Gaetz, Alford admitted that he had never received any assurances from the Biden administration regarding a pardon for Matt Gaetz.

"Alford replied that statement was a lie," the factual basis document states. "Alford's fraudulent scheme was thus making materially false promises to obtain millions of dollars from Don Gaetz though Alford knew he couldn't guarantee a pardon for (Matt Gaetz)," the document said.

The document also discusses a Pensacola-based "Attorney A" who Matt Gaetz has identified as David McGee. McGee has served as an Alford criminal defense attorney on at least two occasions.

Congressman Matt Gaetz speaks at a Donald Trump Jr. event in Sandestin last November.
Congressman Matt Gaetz speaks at a Donald Trump Jr. event in Sandestin last November.

It says Don Gaetz discussed the $25 million arrangement with the attorney and that the attorney had told him he didn't think the group supposedly trying to rescue Levinson needed "anywhere near" the amount of money Alford was attempting to obtain. Alford would later go back to Gaetz and tell him the hostage rescue team had negotiated a deal by which Levinson could be freed for $15.5 million.

The document also states that McGee told the elder Gaetz he had heard rumors of an investigation into possible wrongdoing by Matt Gaetz, but was not part of any effort to secure a presidential pardon.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Gaetz extortion attempt: Document reveals new details about Alford