But the puzzle still has missing pieces. Did 34-year-old Stephanie Birkitt, a Letterman assistant who later moved in with Halderman, get a prominent on-air role because of a relationship with the comedian? Who are the other women? Did any of them feel pressured by Letterman?

“He’s being treated differently because he’s a favorite of the press,” says Tobe Berkovitz, an associate professor of communication at Boston University. The liberal-leaning media, Berkowitz says, “are cutting him slack they wouldn’t if it was a CEO or a senator. It’s still abusing your role as a boss.” While there may be some sympathy for Letterman because of the extortion scheme, he added, “he’s being blackmailed for something he really did do.”