Cheating scandals are never easy to swallow, particularly when you’re in the public eye. While Regina Lasko had maintained a life out of the spotlight, she inadvertently got caught up in her famous husband’s impropriety. After admitting to his multiple sexual relations with staff members, David Letterman stated on his show the following week that Lasko was “horribly hurt” by his actions, CBS reported. “Let me tell you, folks, I got my work cut out for me,” he told the audience. He added, “I just wasn’t thinking ahead. My thanks to the staff for, once again, putting up with something stupid I’ve gotten myself involved in.”
Although Letterman — who clearly has a shady side — didn’t share details, more information came out later. A former female assistant named Stephanie Birkitt was one of the several women he had an affair with, per CBS. Birkitt was already in a relationship with her then-boyfriend CBS News producer Joe Halderman. After finding Birkitt’s diary with details about her affair with Letterman, Halderman attempted to blackmail the television host out of $2 million. Letterman then reported the extortion and gave Halderman a fake check, which he tried to deposit. Halderman was consequently arrested. While many would have understood if Lasko had walked away from her marriage, she ended up staying with Letterman, but it took a lot to save their relationship.
