It turns out the woman at the center of David Letterman's sex and extortion scandal is not banned from the The Late Show set as some media outlets reported.
"Stephanie Birkitt is on a paid leave of absence. TMZ's reporting that she is banned from the set or the building is incorrect," a rep for Worldwide Pants said.
Worldwide Pants is Letterman's production company.
Whatever Birkitt's status, Letterman has escaped any kind of official reprimand so far, remaining on air, cracking jokes at his expense and raking in ratings.
Stephanie Birkitt, 34, worked as David Letterman's former assistant on The Late Show before moving on to bigger and better things as his personal attorney.
Her ex-boyfriend, CBS News producer Robert "Joe" Halderman, was arrested for trying to extort $2 million from Letterman by threatening expose the affair.
Stephanie Birkitt was a recurring comic muse for Letterman.
But it wasn't just money motivating Halderman, according to reports. It was a grudge the star held against him for years, and most of all, it was jealousy.
As recently as August, Halderman saw Letterman and Birkitt passionately kissing in a car in the driveway of the Norwalk, Conn., home he shared with her.
According to a People source, Letterman and Birkitt "were seen making out in the driveway in August," despite her telling Halderman they were just friends.
"He drove her home once a week. The interesting thing was he lives in North Salem, New York. Driving her home to Norwalk wasn't exactly the next town."
Halderman and Birkitt lived together for several years. He reportedly left Dave a package with a copy of her diary and emails elaborating on their hookups.
It was previously believed that their affair had ended in 2003, before the birth of Letterman's son Harry, but these ecent reports seem to suggest otherwise.
Letterman apologized to his staff and his wife, Regina Lasko, who he married in March, on the air Monday, his first day back at work since the alleged plot.
























October 8th, 2009 4:00 PM
I don't think that is right, but they might think that she might be in on the scam. I wouldn't put it past her.
October 8th, 2009 4:03 PM
There is no way that wife is going to let that chick come back and work with her man lol im sure she will get a good recommendation lol
October 8th, 2009 4:21 PM
Between David Letterman, the Hills actors and Jon Gosselin, we've got 95% of the news this week. Next.
October 8th, 2009 5:57 PM
wow this is great, thaanks for the new holylwood gossip !
October 8th, 2009 6:27 PM
I'm.really.over.this.story!
October 8th, 2009 7:42 PM
OMFG! paid leave???? for having sex withsomeone? SERIOUS?????
October 8th, 2009 8:36 PM
paid leave? when she gets back i bet they will fire her. they r just giving her time to find another job
October 8th, 2009 9:26 PM
girl gets paid ...lol
October 8th, 2009 9:28 PM
she probably will get fired soon too but their just waiting into everything cools off before they totally can her
October 9th, 2009 12:42 PM
This whole situation is such a mess, I feel bad for everyone involved, it has all gone way too far.