Bahamas Ex-Senator Granted Bail In Travolta Case

A former Bahamas senator was granted bail Wednesday on charges she conspired to help extort $25 million from actor John Travolta after his son died from a seizure at a family vacation home.

Pleasant Bridgewater is accused of plotting with an ambulance driver to demand the money in exchange for suppressing a document related to the treatment of the celebrity’s son. She was not required to enter a plea at the arraignment.

The document would have released emergency responders from liability if the family refused an ambulance, but it did not come into play in 16-year-old Jett Travolta’s case, according to Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Marvin Dames.

Celebrity news Web site TMZ.com has reported that Travolta, an avid pilot, considered flying his chronically ill son to Florida before he was driven to the hospital on Grand Bahama island.

It is unclear why the pair allegedly believed the Travoltas would pay to keep the document from being released.

Bail was set at $50,000 for Bridgewater, an attorney from Grand Bahama who resigned her Senate seat following her arrest last week on charges of abetment to extort and conspiracy to extort. Her next court date was set for Feb. 11.

The other suspect, paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, was among those who tried to revive Jett after he collapsed Jan. 2. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to extort and conspiracy to extort from the movie star.

The actor and his wife, Kelly Preston, returned home to Florida with the ashes of their son shortly after his death.

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