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Robert Joe Halderman, a producer of CBS’s “48 Hours,” was arrested Thursday for an alleged extortion plot to expose David Letterman‘s multiple affairs with women on his staff. (View photo of Halderman below)

The scandal was revealed Thursday night, when Letterman told his studio audience he was being blackmailed for $2 million by someone who threatened to expose his sexual relationships with female employees.

The Late Show host contacted the Manhattan District Attorney’s Special Prosecution Bureau, and was told to cut a phony check to the alleged extortionist.

According to to sources, Halderman, 51, lived with one of the women Letterman was involved with. Halderman needed money, and decided to target the talk show host.

The affair happened before Letterman’s son was born, although he was living with longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko, whom he married in March. (View photos)

The woman still works for the show, but is no longer involved with Letterman.

Letterman testified this morning at a Grand Jury hearing, and was asked if he had ever slept with a member of his staff.

“My response to that is, yes I have,” Letterman told his studio audience.

“Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would,” said Letterman. “I feel like I need to protect these people. I need to certainly protect my family.”

Halderman, 51, was arrested for attempted grand larceny in the first degree, and has been suspended from “48 Hours” pending the results of the investigation.

Robert Joe Alderman photo and video of David Letterman October 1, 2009, apology video below: