The law firm of a Pensacola attorney accused by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz of being involved in a scheme to extort millions of dollars from the congressman’s family stands by its statement that the allegations are false and malicious.
Gaetz is reportedly under investigation for sex trafficking involving an underage girl. The congressman has responded to the allegations in a press release and an interview on Fox News by alleging that David L. McGee, a partner in the law firm Beggs & Lane, was involved in a plot to secure funds from the Gaetz family.
“The allegation by the congressman is both false and defamatory,” a statement from Beggs & Lane emailed to the Florida Record said. “Mr. McGee was the chief assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida 25 years ago. During his tenure with the Department of Justice his reputation for integrity and ethical conduct was impeccable. It has remained impeccable throughout his 25-year tenure with our firm.”
Gaetz said in a press release that the alleged extortion scheme involved a former Department of Justice official who sought $25 million in exchange for ending the sex trafficking probe. The congressman denies the sex trafficking allegations and contends the people leaking the allegations to the media are themselves targets of a federal probe into the alleged extortion scheme.
“While (McGee) was with the DOJ, he would never have entertained a scheme such as what Congressman Gaetz suggests, nor would he today,” the law firm’s statement says. “Unsubstantiated allegations do not change that fact.”
In response to a query from the Record, the firm did not comment about whether McGee might file a lawsuit against Gaetz for defamation.
McGee has practiced law for more than 37 years, according to biographical information on the Beggs & Lane website. He served for six years as first assistant at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and was the lead attorney for a DOJ Organized Crime Task Force for seven years, the website says.
McGee is skilled in complex civil and criminal litigation, according to the law firm, and his experience includes areas such as health care, large construction projects, environmental regulations, and tax and securities cases.
Gaetz has alleged that the Justice Department has audio tapes that support his charges of an extortion scheme involving McGee and has called on the department to release that evidence.