Dispatches from the industry that spawned Roman Polanski; Michelle Malkin links to an article in Variety that notes:
In an uncharacteristically personal revelation for David Letterman, the host took to his “Late Show” stage Thursday to admit that he was the victim of an extortion attempt — and acknowledge that he has had sexual relations with more than one staff member.
According to a press release sent by Letterman’s PR reps, the host first received a package three weeks ago from someone who claimed to have information about alleged sexual relations he has had with female employees of the “Late Show.”
The individual threatened to go public with the allegations unless Letterman paid him $2 million.
Letterman told his audience on Thursday that he contacted the Manhattan District Attorney’s Special Prosecution Bureau. That led to a sting operation, in which Letterman met with the individual and handed the person a fake $2 million check. That person was arrested on Thursday.
“This morning, I did something I’ve never done in my life,” Letterman said on Thursday’s edition of CBS’ “Late Show.” “I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury.”
As part of the testimony, Letterman admitted that he had engaged in sexual relationships with staff members.
“My response to that is, yes I have. Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would,” Letterman said. “I feel like I need to protect these people — I need to certainly protect my family.”
Of course, other people’s families are fair game for attack.
Update: Found Via Hot Air, Radar magazine claims: “EXCLUSIVE: Man Arrested For Extortion Lived With Woman Who Slept With Letterman.”
Update: More from TMZ and Newsbusters.
Update: Greg Pollowitz quips, “This certainly gives new meaning to the name of Dave’s production company, ‘Worldwide Pants.’” Glenn Reynolds adds, “Upside for Letterman: Compared to Polanski, he doesn’t look as bad. . . .”
As long as people’s will power to turn off the tv set is weakened, anything will continue to be shown, because of deviancy tends to be defined downwards.
Seriously, I ask this question: would any country be worse off with fewer televisions?
I don’t think so.
If he admits to it under oath, how can they be ALLEGED affairs?
Letterman is fine; he never was the “Family Values” type. Yes, he probably cheated on his girlfriend now wife. But at least he does go around claiming he is Mr. “Family Values” like some of our politicians (can you just see the grin on all “Fake News” reporters/commentators). This has been a tough summer, for Dave, for our economy but at least he did not end up on the “Republican 2009 Summer of Love” list: Assemblyman, Michael D. Duvall (CA), Senator John Ensign (NV), Senator Paul Stanley (TN), Governor Mark Stanford (SC), Board of Ed Chair, and Kristin Maguire AKA Bridget Keeney (SC).
Paul,
Indeed. “The funnyman needs his supply of sex, and the paying career positions on the staff can be used to create a pool of potential sexual partners who will keep the old man bolstered up.”
Glad you’re OK with that.
I believe that the American people can see the distinction between a Late Night jokester and a Politician who preaches one thing and lives another. And I also believe that the American people will have more compassionate about this situation, but who knows what the court case will reveal. Let’s remember “Those who are not willing to give pardon and mercy are those that do not need pardon and mercy. By the way, who are you to cast stones?
Paul,
Who are you to defend his antics by spamming half the Internet?