LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Letterman acknowledged on Thursday’s show that he had sexual relationships with female employees and that someone tried to extort $2 million from him over the affairs.
During the taping of his CBS late-night show in New York, Letterman discussed receiving a threat to either pay $2 million or risk the relationships being made public.
In a release from the show’s producer, Letterman said he referred the matter to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and that an investigation ended in an arrest Thursday. Letterman did not identify the person he said was arrested.
“This morning, I did something I’ve never done in my life,” said Letterman. “I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury.”
In his testimony, he said he acknowledged sexual relationships with members of his staff.
“My response to that is, yes I have,” Letterman said. “Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would. I feel like I need to protect these people. I need to certainly protect my family.”
Letterman and girlfriend Regina Lasko married in March. The couple began dating in 1986 and have a son, Harry, born in 2003.
