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...by declining to be extorted.
Apparently, he'd hit it. Repeatedly.
Letterman Reports Extortion
By RUSSELL ADAMS
David Letterman was the target of an extortion attempt based on sexual relationships he had with female employees, the late-night talk show host acknowledged on his show Thursday, according to a statement put out by the show's producer.
Three weeks ago, Mr. Letterman received a package from a person who claimed to have knowledge of the relationships and subsequently threatened to go public with it if he didn't agree to pay $2 million, Mr. Letterman said, according to the statement.
The star of CBS's "Late Show With David Letterman" said he referred the case to the Special Prosecution Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The office conducted an investigation, during which it issued a fake $2 million check and arrested the alleged extortionist Thursday, the statement said.
Mr. Letterman said he acknowledged in testimony before a grand jury Thursday morning that he had engaged in sexual relationships with members of his staff. "My response to that is, yes, I have," Mr. Letterman said during the show's taping, according to the statement. "Would it be embarrassing it if were made public? Perhaps it would. I feel like I need to protect these people. I need to certainly protect my family."
Mr. Letterman married his longtime partner, Regina Lasko, in March. The two have a young son.
A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office declined to comment. "CBS was made aware of an ongoing police investigation involving David Letterman and an employee at '48 Hours,' who was subsequently arrested earlier today on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree. CBS is cooperating fully with the authorities and the employee has been suspended pending the results of the investigation. Mr. Letterman addressed the issue during the show's broadcast this evening, and we believe his comments speak for themselves," said Chris Ender, a CBS spokesman.
The disclosure comes on the heels of a good ratings run for Mr. Letterman. The 62-year-old host regularly beats NBC's new "Tonight Show" host, Conan O'Brien, in average number of viewers, while Mr. O'Brien bests him among viewers between the ages of 18 and 49. Last week, Mr. Letterman interviewed President Barack Obama and beat Mr. O'Brien by both measures, attracting more viewers than he has for any show since 2005.
By RUSSELL ADAMS
David Letterman was the target of an extortion attempt based on sexual relationships he had with female employees, the late-night talk show host acknowledged on his show Thursday, according to a statement put out by the show's producer.
Three weeks ago, Mr. Letterman received a package from a person who claimed to have knowledge of the relationships and subsequently threatened to go public with it if he didn't agree to pay $2 million, Mr. Letterman said, according to the statement.
The star of CBS's "Late Show With David Letterman" said he referred the case to the Special Prosecution Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The office conducted an investigation, during which it issued a fake $2 million check and arrested the alleged extortionist Thursday, the statement said.
Mr. Letterman said he acknowledged in testimony before a grand jury Thursday morning that he had engaged in sexual relationships with members of his staff. "My response to that is, yes, I have," Mr. Letterman said during the show's taping, according to the statement. "Would it be embarrassing it if were made public? Perhaps it would. I feel like I need to protect these people. I need to certainly protect my family."
Mr. Letterman married his longtime partner, Regina Lasko, in March. The two have a young son.
A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office declined to comment. "CBS was made aware of an ongoing police investigation involving David Letterman and an employee at '48 Hours,' who was subsequently arrested earlier today on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree. CBS is cooperating fully with the authorities and the employee has been suspended pending the results of the investigation. Mr. Letterman addressed the issue during the show's broadcast this evening, and we believe his comments speak for themselves," said Chris Ender, a CBS spokesman.
The disclosure comes on the heels of a good ratings run for Mr. Letterman. The 62-year-old host regularly beats NBC's new "Tonight Show" host, Conan O'Brien, in average number of viewers, while Mr. O'Brien bests him among viewers between the ages of 18 and 49. Last week, Mr. Letterman interviewed President Barack Obama and beat Mr. O'Brien by both measures, attracting more viewers than he has for any show since 2005.
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