Rep. Matt Gaetz claimed that his family was being extorted by others after he learned of an investigation into him.
The DOJ is looking into allegations that Gaetz was involved in a sexual relationship, allegedly with a 17 year-old.
Federal prosecutors in Florida have arrested a man who allegedly tried to defraud Gaetz's family.
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A Florida man was charged with trying to defraud Matt Gaetz's family of $25 million. This is in connection with the pending sexual assault allegations against Rep. Gaetz.
On Tuesday, the Justice Department announced that Stephen Alford (62), was allegedly involved in a scheme for money between March 16th and April 7 based on false promises or guarantees that he made the victim that Alford could grant a Presidential Pardon to a relative of the victim.
Although Gaetz is not mentioned in the indictment, sources tell multiple outlets such as CNN and The New York Times the case is connected to the Florida congressman.
According to the NWF Daily News, Alford is a Florida real-estate developer and a convicted felon.
The Department of Justice announced in March that it was investigating Gaetz's sexual relationship with a 17 year-old girl. This would be a violation of federal sex-trafficking law. The allegations have been denied by Gaetz and no charges have been brought against him.
Gaetz claimed that his family was being extorted simultaneously by two former government officials: Bob Kent, an Air Force Intelligence officer, and David McGee (a former federal prosecutor), who had heard about the DOJ investigation.
According to the court document, Alford had written a letter called "Project Homecoming", which outlined a plan to extort $25m from the father of GOP Reps. According to the DOJ Alford gave the letter to "Person A" for discussion with Don Gaetz or D.G.
Politico reported that Person A was Kent.
According to court documents, Person A spoke with Don Gaetz about the letter. Alford met with Don Gaetz again to discuss the scheme. This included Alford receiving a Presidential pardon for Rep. Gaetz, and Locating and Freeing R.L. according to the court document.
The Times identified R.L. The Times identified R.L. Officials and Levinson's relatives said that they believed he died in Iran while he was imprisoned.
According to court documents, Alford instructed Don Gaetz that he needed $25 million to be transferred into trust accounts at a law firm named "Law Firm A". Rep. Gaetz would be pardoned if the money was used to release Levinson.
According to court documents, Alford claimed he could pardon Rep. Gaetz. He even told Don Gaetz that he would take him "by hand to see President of the United States."
According to court documents, Alford told Don Gaetz that he had negotiated the price to $15.5million. He also required Don Gaetz to pay $1 million cash upfront and $4.5 million to "Attorney A," which Politico identified as McGee.
Politico reported Kent saying that he was introduced by McGee to Alford, who was his former lawyer.
Alford is facing charges of wire fraud, destruction of property subjected to a seizure order, and for allegedly destroying an iPhone in a seizure property search.
Rep. Gaetz tweeted that he was "proven right".
"They tried to extort my money on a bunch of lies. Alford was not acting alone. He had the support of people who have strong ties with the federal government. He said that there is more to the attempt to destroy me."
Insider could not reach Rep. Gaetz to comment at the time of publication. However, Harlan Hill, his spokesperson for Politico, stated that the "release of the Alford tapes" would further exonerate Rep. Gaetz as well as those with long-standing connections to the federal government.
