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LA sheriff looking into extortion allegations in Mel Gibson case

By Alan Duke, CNN
Officials say they are investigating extortion allegations involving Oksana Grigorieva, the former girlfriend of actor Mel Gibson.
Officials say they are investigating extortion allegations involving Oksana Grigorieva, the former girlfriend of actor Mel Gibson.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: Grigorieva spokesman says there's "no credible evidence"
  • Sheriff's spokesman: Extortion allegations were "brought to our attention"
  • Explosive audio recordings surfaced this month
  • Mel Gibson and his ex-girlfriend are in a bitter child custody dispute
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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators are looking into extortion allegations involving Oksana Grigorieva, the ex-girlfriend of actor Mel Gibson, a sheriff's spokesman said.

"Allegations of extortion have been brought to our attention and we are certainly going to look into it," spokesman Steve Whitmore said Wednesday.

Grigorieva's spokesman told CNN Wednesday that she stands by an earlier statement that there is "no credible evidence" of extortion.

A source close to the investigation told CNN that Gibson's lawyer met with Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators Tuesday to present evidence that Grigorieva, 40. allegedly attempted to extort money from Gibson to keep audio recordings secret.

"To specifically address the allegations, my client, Ms. Grigorieva, has repeatedly stated that there is no credible evidence whatsoever of extortion by her, and she stands steadfastly by that statement," her spokesman, Steve Jaffe, said.

Several explosive audio recordings, purportedly between Grigorieva and Gibson, have been released online in recent days.

RadarOnline released another recording Tuesday of a vicious argument purportedly between Gibson and Grigorieva, in which the man is accused of striking the woman and the couple's child -- an accusation the man does not deny.

Malibu Hills, California, police opened an investigation earlier this month into an alleged domestic violence incident between Gibson and Grigorieva, who are locked a custody dispute over their 8-month-old daughter.

Whitmore said last week that the recordings "will be part of the investigation" into the alleged domestic violence.

Grigorieva filed a restraining order against Gibson alleging that he struck her in the face, according to her spokesman, Stephen Jaffe. A court hearing on that order is set for Thursday morning.

CNN's Brittany Kaplan contributed to this report.