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Letterman in 'sex blackmail bid' Letterman reveals 'sex blackmail'
(about 2 hours later)
US chat show host David Letterman has confessed during a recording of his show that he had sexual relationships with female members of his staff. US chat show host David Letterman has confessed during a recording of his show he has had sexual relationships with female members of his staff.
He said an attempt had been made to blackmail him over the affairs. "I have had sex with women who work for me on this show," he told an audience in New York, saying an attempt had been made to blackmail him over the affairs.
Mr Letterman told his studio audience that a person threatened to expose the relationships unless a payment of $2m (£1.2m) was made. Letterman said "a guy" had threatened to expose the relationships unless a payment of $2m (£1.2m) was made.
He said he went to prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's office and an arrest was made on Thursday. The man, who has not been named, was arrested on Thursday.
The person who was arrested has not been named. CBS, which broadcasts The Late Show with David Letterman, confirmed an employee had been charged with attempted grand larceny.
Mr Letterman told the audience in New York that as part of the investigation, he had issued a "phoney" $2m cheque to the individual and the arrest followed. It said the man works on the true-crime show 48 Hours and had been suspended pending the results of the investigation.
"This morning, I did something I've never done in my life," he said. 'Terrible things'
"I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury." "I have a little story I have to tell you," announced Letterman on Thursday, saying he was first approached by the alleged blackmailer three weeks ago.
He said that in his testimony he acknowledged sexual relationships with members of his staff. He said he had got in his car early one morning to find a package with a letter containing proof of the "terrible things" he was said to have done.
His production company declined to comment further. David Letterman said he had handed over a "phoney" cheque for $2m
David Letterman has presented the Late Show on CBS since 1993. The letter, he said, was from a man who threatened to write a book and screenplay about the veteran broadcaster unless he was given money.
He married his long-term girlfriend Regina Lasko in March and they have a six-year old son. On the advice of his attorney, Letterman said, he had contacted prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
As part of the investigation, he continued, he had issued a "phoney" $2m cheque to the person allegedly attempting to extort him.
"This morning I did something I've never done in my life," said the broadcaster. "I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury."
In his testimony he acknowledged he had conducted sexual relationships with members of his staff.
"I had to tell them all of the creepy things that I had done," he said.
'Bizarre experience'
"The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show."
Letterman said it had been "a very bizarre experience" and that he did not "plan to say much more on this particular topic".
"I felt like I needed to protect these people," he said. "I need to protect my family. I need to protect myself [and] hope to protect my job."
David Letterman has presented The Late Show on CBS since 1993. Prior to that he hosted a late-night talk show on rival network NBC.
The 62-year-old has a six-year-old son with Regina Lasko, a long-term girlfriend he married in March.