Talk show host David Letterman revealed to his audience Thursday night that he had sexual relationships with female members of his staff and had been extorted for $2 million that was now the subject of a grand jury investigation.
Letterman also said during a taping of “The Late Show” that he had given suspects a phony $2 million check – apparently as part of a police operation.
"This morning, I did something I've never done in my life," Letterman told his audience, according to the statement obtained by Politico. "I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury."
Letterman, 62, acknowledged unspecified sexual relationships with staff members to the grand jury, the Worldwide Pants statement said.
"My response to that [allegation of sexual relationships] 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."
According to the statement, Letterman received a package three weeks ago containing a threat to reveal those indiscretions "if Letterman did not pay the individual a large sum of money" -- specified in a later communication as $2 million.
"Letterman said that he referred the matter to the Special Prosecution Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's office," the Worldwide Pants statement said, "which Letterman said conducted an investigation, which included his issuing a "phony" $2 million check to the individual, and culminated in the individual's arrest earlier today."
Letterman was a longtime bachelor after his first marriage ended in divorce in 1977. Earlier this year, Letterman announced on his show his marriage to his longtime girlfriend, Regina Lasko. The pair have a son, Harry Joseph Letterman, whose impending arrival Letterman announced on his show in 2003.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.