Letterman Admits Sex With Staffers, Extortion Plot

We stayed up past our bedtime last night (we go to bed at 7pm, so it was rough) to watch David Letterman disclose details about the extortion plot against him, masterminded by a former CBS producer, Robert J. Halderman. Apparently the guy demanded $2 million from Dave, after threatening to write a screenplay and a book about how he nailed numerous female staffers. Awkward! Dave and his attorney took it to the cops, the guy was busted with a fake check and the whole thing made for one of the most compelling moments on television since Jessie Spano had a Pointer Sisters-fueled meltdown on “Saved By The Bell.”

Now that the criminal’s been busted, we imagine it’ll be Dave’s turn to do some explaining - to his wife Regina Lasko, with whom he has a five-year-old son. We have a feeling she’s not gonna find the whole quite as funny as Dave’s audience did last night.

According to DListed, the woman Dave allegedly slept with is his former assistant, Stephanie Birkitt, who apparently lived with Halderman at one point. If you’re a longtime Letterman fan, you’ll recognize her as the woman Dave used to call on the phone from his desk. She also covered the 2002 and 2006 Olympics for the show, and once called the comedian “the greatest boss I could ever have.” Cue dry heaves!

Here’s Stephanie appearing on the show in 2002 (more can be found over at the Huffington Post). Watch as Dave calls off the planned bit and instead flirts with her for 8 minutes. Enjoy!