LA TIMES INVESTIGATION REVEALS GIBSON EX $20M DEMAND FOR TAPES

According to a Los Angeles Times investigation published today, Mel Gibson’s entertainment lawyer was summoned to a Century City office 11 months ago where Gibson’s Ukrainian girlfriend’s attorneys played audio tapes of the star ranting and spewing epithets. And then came the punch line: The Ex wanted 20 million dollars to destroy the tapes.

According to the LAT, the Ex’s lawyer played snippets of the tapes for Gibson's entertainment lawyer, Thomas Hansen. "$10M for her, including child support. $10M for Lucia. ... Give guarantee of mouth shut," Hansen wrote in his notes.

In a May 2 e-mail, the Ukrainian offered explanations for the recordings that completely contradict the spin her lawyers have published recently—that she was trying to gather evidence of domestic violence—stating that she wanted Gibson to "hear for yourself what you sound like once you are enraged" and then saying the tapes were her insurance should Gibson's be inclined to “not take care of me financially…..".

At a subsequent mediation, according to the LAT:

“They reached an agreement that spanned 20 years and amounted to nearly $11 million for Lucia and more than $5 million for Grigorieva, who would also get a Steinway piano from Gibson's Malibu home. Custody was to be split. The deal required that "all evidence" — a reference to the photos and recordings — "be destroyed in a manner agreed upon both parties."”

It sure sounds like extortion to us! But no wonder the ex got buyer's remorse: The baby was getting more money than she! Greedy, greedy, greedy!

Meanwhile, the AP is reporting that the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Office is has announced that they have now turned over all evidence in the extortion investigation to Southern California prosecutors.

Stay tuned, because you just know that this story is only going to get better over time, as more details about the grifter’s past and the manner in which she tried to shake Gibson down come out.

Read More: A look at secret negotiations in Mel Gibson case as detectives wrap investigation (Los Angeles Times)