David Letterman says he was victim of $2-million extortion attempt in sex case

Talk host David Letterman said Thursday that he was the victim of a $2-million extortion attempt related to his sexual relationships with staffers on CBS' "The Late Show."

During a taping for tonight's broadcast, Letterman told viewers that three weeks ago he was approached by a person who claimed to have information about the host's affairs with female staff members. This person, Letterman said, threatened to expose the relationships unless payment of $2 million was received. The CBS star approached the Manhattan district attorney's office, which began an investigation that culminated in today's arrest of the person, whom Letterman did not identify.

According to the website TMZ, the alleged extortionist is New York businessman Robert Halderman, 51.

Letterman, 62, said that during his grand-jury testimony he admitted to the sexual relationships.

"My response to that is, yes I have," he told his studio audience. "Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps." However, he added: "I need to certainly protect my family."

CBS issued a terse statement that said in its entirety: "Mr. Letterman's comments on the broadcast tonight speak for themselves."

A spokesman for Letterman declined to elaborate on Letterman's remarks. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office declined to comment on the case.

Earlier this year, Letterman married Regina Lasko, his companion since 1986. The couple have a young son, Harry, whom Letterman frequently mentions on the program.

-- Scott Collins

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This image rendered form video shows David Letterman as he tells his story during a taping of his late-night show Thursday Oct. 1, 2009 that he had sexual relationships with female employees and that someone tried to extort $2 million from him over the affairs, and CBS says an employee has been charged with attempted grand larceny in the case. (AP Photo/CBS)

Comments

[Ambergris]

He's gone public with it. He's got it out in the open. He's not trying to hide it or pretend it didn't happen.

His apology to his wife is something to be kept private. We get enough of those self-serving "and I apologize to my wife and family for what I've done" speeches already from public officials.

His wife can take whatever action she likes at this point. That's a family matter and should remain so.

I hope the attempted blackmailer gets what s/he so richly deserves.

[Glass House]

Tapping an employee isn't sexual harassment on the face of it. If all were adults and the liaison was wanted, fair enough. Dave's only been married a few months. We can't even assume the sex was adulterous. Good for Dave spurning and extortionist and getting ahead of the inevitable publicity with his own public statement. No viewer's enthusiasm and appreciation for Dave should be diminished in the least. All you prudes protesting, board up your own glass house.

[jparker]

Ah yes, Dave does what "us average Americans" can't do but would do if we could: have sex.

[Art]

Sorry Floyd, you're definitely wrong. Anyone that has celebrity status becomes a target. Your life is news to the public. His statement should have started with an apology to his wife and son. It seems as though he thinks celebrity rules do not apply to him. He embarrased CBS (will they fire him . . will the sponsors withdraw,etc). Even when found guilty in court, your sentence is lighter if you show remorse. He acts like what he did was alright.

[Blur]

I just broke the exclusive on the name of the staffer "with benefits." I am a big fan of Dave and don't think this will have any long-term effect. While unfortunate this was hardly a "closely kept" secret.

[jad]

Oh my god. Have we gone back to fantasies of Ozzie and Harriott? Look at these comments. Letterman is a "Creep?" A Pervert? For having an illicit affair? Good grief. We've all had them. The only way I can understand these ridiculous moralistic comments is to imagine those who write them are 11 year-olds (or perhaps have the sexual maturity of an 11 year old).

[Blurshow.com]

Name revealed

[Dirk]

Lame list, Mark.

Stick to your day job. Comedy ain't your thing.

[milquetoast]

Well, this certainly deserves a "Palin like" Top Ten List! Ha Ha Ha Hardy Har Har hypocrite....

[Quankers]

Get over yourselves. One of the wealthiest and most powerful men in television sleeps with his staff members? He's a dirty disgusting creep? Where do you think his child came from? His wife who was a staff member on his show. The details about this are far too scant for anyone to be judging anyone. For all you know this could be something that happened years before he was married with a child.

[Fernando]

David who?

[MikeP]

Celebrities need training on how to work zippers, specifically, how to keep them closed.

[Saylor]

Wow, you people are amazing. He admitted to affairs with staffers, but just because he shagged some women who worked for him doesn't mean he did it while he was married or whatever. There were no established dates that were discussed. So what? We don't know the timeline. Move on. I'm not wild about it, but he's not ever pretended to be squeaky clean.

[Bruce Ward]

Love the top ten reasons posted by Mark - very clever and appropo. That being said, he only got married this year. He apparently had flings, and also apparently with women in his show's employ.....wow. This really goes on in show business? This really goes on in offices throughout America? Dave is now certifiably human.

[Papa Beau]

Its not harrassment if it is consensual,give me a break,most relationships start in the workplace .He's no different from the rest of normal people.

[JPH]

"And this pervert had the nerve to talk about Sarah Palin and her daughters. He is a joke. I think the Palin's are laughing at this clown now."

Please people. Learn how and when to use apostrophes in appropriate situations. I implore you. It makes you looks like less of an ass.

Also: The only detail we know is that Dave had sex with people who worked on his show. We do not know when. We do not know how. We do not know who. For all we know, it could have been at a time that he and his girlfriend were fighting. Or "seeing other people." Or maybe that had an "agreement." Whatever. It's his life. He didn't do anything illegal or creepy. You people comparing him to Polanski and Woody Allen need to lighten the hell up.

[MotherLodeBeth]

Is this the same Letterman who made horrid jokes about Palin's daughter getting knocked up at a baseball game in NYC? Guess Letterman is not only a pig but makes a sixteen year old male look mature. Hope the person who tried to extort the money gets a slap on the wrist.

[Papa Beau]

It's not harassment if it is consensual,and most relationships start in the workplace.Give me and him a break,that's natural.He was single,kinda, ,and a man ,and could be tempted,and we know where our brain is located.Evidently everybody involved is or was o k with it .Butt out..

[Bruce]

These holier-than-thou and overly indignant posters cop attitudes about a matter they really know nothing about. Sex with staff, if consensual, is not smart, but it isn't necessarily wrong, depending on his personal status at the time. As the other more reasoned posters noted, it is a private matter between him and his wife. I do not want to be an audience for this matter. So, take your indignation and watch some other late night program if it means that much to you. I believe Dave will weather this just fine.

[Parker]

He is a man and that's what men do. Deal with it ladies. He should not step down. The relationships were consensual and everybody needs to calm down . People make mistakes and its between him and his family.