A former Letterman writer claims Dave's show was a "hostile, sexually charged atmosphere" -- and "sexual politics" played a role in why she eventually quit the job.
The woman making the claim is Nell Scovell, who spent roughly 5 months working for Dave back in 1990.
In an article for Vanity Fair, Scovell claims during her employment, she was well aware that Dave and other high-level male employees were having sexual relations with female staffers.
Scovell also claims those female staffers were "benefiting professionally from their personal relationships."
She adds, "Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely. Did I say anything at the time? Sadly, no."
But she's talkin' now.
In the article, Scovell claims she's not looking to take any legal action against Dave or the show -- and she never identifies any of the alleged staffer-bangers by name.
Joe Halderman -- the man accused of trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman -- was spotted at a Connecticut train station this morning, allegedly heading to NYC.
The camera guy asks Halderman how he's doing -- we can't tell if he says "Hey," "Great" or something else.
FYI -- Halderman has pled not guilty to the felony charge of attempted grand larceny in the first degree.
Much like he did with Stephanie Birkitt, David Letterman also used Holly Hester in sketches on his old "Late Night with David Letterman."
Here's a bit Dave did with Hester, who claims to have had a relationship with Letterman, all the way back in 1988. In this scene, Hester went by the name Phoebe.
TMZ has obtained the search warrants in the David Letterman extortion case ... and the alleged extortion meeting between the suspect and Letterman's lawyer was recorded.
According to the affidavit, signed by Detective Terrence Blake and Detective Anthony Pasquarielao from the NYPD, they were seeking to search and seize "any and all computers and loose media, floppy disks, hard disks, cassette tapes, magnetic tapes, removable media, tape and/or data cartridges."
Cops were looking for correspondence, screenplays, treatments ... "regarding the demand for money in exchange for the non-disclosure of information pertaining to the personal and private lives of public figures."
According to the warrant, Letterman's lawyer received a package from Robert Halderman on Sept. 9, 2009, containing a demand letter and treatment for a screenplay and supporting materials including copies of a portion of a diary...
In the letter, Halderman states he needs to "make alarge chunk of money" by selling Client #1 "ascreenplay treatment."
The "other" other intern David Letterman allegedly got down with certainly made herself comfy in Dave's office back in the day.
As we first reported, Holly Hester -- an intern for Dave 2 decades ago -- says she also had a secret relationship with the late night host when she was a student at NYU and fell head over heels for him. She says they dated for a year.
The pics, taken when Dave was still at NBC, are totally innocent -- Holly is goofing around in his office ... Dave nowhere in sight. But Holly was a bold intern -- daring to puff on one of Dave's beloved cigars.
When David Letterman's company drew up the rules and regs for interns, who knew a double entendre of epic proportions would eventually surface?
TMZ has obtained the "Late Show" Intern Packet from 2002. In the "Welcome" packet, Worldwide Pants explains, "Things might seem overwhelming at first. There are many names, faces and departments you'll need to know. If you get confused, ask questions, no one here bites."
"...no one here bites."
And this is a little cheesy: "LATE SHOW t-shirts, sweatshirts and caps are not easily accessible. Please don't assume that because you are part of the show, you are entitled to them. Things will come to you in time; be patient."
By the way, in 2002, Stephanie Birkitt was already Dave's assistant.
TMZ has obtained the sexual harassment policy statement for David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants -- and what's NOT in the document is more interesting than what is.
Nothing in the document prohibits an employee from gettin' down with the host. In fact, the document -- which we're told was first distributed approximately five years ago -- does not prohibit sexual liaisons in the office, provided they're not "unsolicited and unwelcome."
The policy does make it clear it's inappropriate for a supervisor to offer a promotion, salary increase or any other type of bonus in exchange for "providing any form of sexual favor to or dating a supervisor."
If Letterman were held to CBS policies, he would have been required to notify a member of the CBS brass and declare his affair. But Letterman is not a CBS employee so that rule doesn't apply.
So ... as long as Letterman didn't reward his office "partners" with perks ... WWP would have no issues with him.
Joe Halderman, the man who allegedly tried extorting David Letterman, says he's not running or hiding from anyone.
FOX 5 WNYW got video of Halderman at his home in Norwalk, CT yesterday. Halderman said he couldn't talk but added, "I'm not trying to hide or run, but there's nothing I can say."
TMZ has learned Stephanie Birkitt -- the woman at the center of the David Letterman sex scandal -- has been banned from setting foot on the CBS set where the "Late Show" is filmed.
Birkitt used to be David's assistant -- appearing on the "Late Show" numerous times -- and later became his personal attorney. It was Birkitt's ex-boyfriend -- Robert Halderman -- who discovered Letterman's secret relationship with her ... and then allegedly threatened to release the scandalous information unless Letterman forked over $2 million.
Sources tell TMZ that security at CBS is well aware of Birkitt's ban from the set.
Worldwide Pants just issued the following statement: "Stephanie is on paid leave of absence ... she has not been banned from the Ed Sullivan Theatre."
But TMZ just spoke with someone associated with security at Letterman who just told us, "Security got a verbal order that she is 'banned' from the property for the time being."
David Letterman may have violated CBS rules on bosses having relationships with their employees, but there's a catch -- Dave doesn't work for CBS.
CBS has guidelines on the conduct of its employees -- the Business Conduct Statement. TMZ has a copy of a provision titled "Supervisor/Subordinate Relationships." It reads:
"CBS recognizes that consenting romantic or sexual relationships may develop between a supervisor and a subordinate (whether such supervision is direct or indirect). These relationships frequently lead to complications and significant difficulties for the supervisor, the subordinate, others in the workplace, and CBS. If a consenting romantic or sexual relationship between a supervisor and a direct or indirect subordinate should develop, CBS requires the supervisor to disclose this information to his or her Company's Human Resources Department to ensure that there are no issues of actual or apparent favoritism, conflict of interest, sexual harassment, or any other negative impact on others in the work environment."
The Statement continues: "Upon being informed or learning of the existence of such a relationship, CBS will take steps that it deems appropriate to protect the workplace environment."
That said .... Dave is not an employee of CBS. He's employed by Worldwide Pants (WWP), his production company. WWP says, "We have a written policy in our employee manual that covers harassment. It is circulated to every employee every year. Dave is not in violation of our policy and no one has ever raised a complaint against him."
We do not know if WWP has a policy of requiring employees to disclose relationships with subordinates.
We contacted CBS but the company declined comment.
Speaking in a far more serious tone than he did last week -- David Letterman admitted on tonight's show how his wife Regina "has been horribly hurt by my behavior."
David continued by saying, "If you hurt a person, and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it ... so let me tell you folks, I have my work cut out for me."
Before addressing the situation with his wife, David was a bit more jovial -- apologizing to his staff members for subjecting them to all the drama caused by his situation ... then cracking a joke about hooking up with his announcer, Alan Kalter.
David also wanted to make it clear that his sexual exploits with staff members were a "thing of the past."
Walking out to more applause than usual, David Letterman opened tonight's "Late Show" by taking three shots at himself in less than a minute!
Among the zingers, Dave told the audience, "I got into the car this morning and the navigation lady wasn't speaking to me."
Things take a more serious turn later in the monologue -- where Dave reportedly apologizes to his wife for his affairs. CBS is keeping that part under wraps until tonight.
David Letterman issued a "sincere apology" to his wife during the monologue of his show earlier today -- wasting no time in addressing his controversial handling of the extortion plot against him.
It was Dave's first show back since he admitted to having sexual relationships with multiple female members of his staff.
Several audience members claim Dave went on "at length" about his situation, sometimes using humor ... and sometimes getting serious.
Letterman also apologized to the women who work on his show, telling the audience he's worried that people will think he hooked up with women who were never really involved with him.
TMZ has obtained photos of Holly Hester -- the woman who acknowledged she had a relationship with David Letterman in the early 1990s -- back when she worked as an intern for Dave.
The pics show Hester with segment producer Frank Gannon (top) and writer Joe Furey (bottom) and were taken in Dave's outer offices back when he was at NBC.
Hester said her relationship with Letterman lasted a year and that she was "madly in love with him."
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A former Letterman writer claims Dave's show was a "hostile, sexually charged atmosphere" -- and "sexual politics" played a role in why she eventually quit the job. 
A Connecticut college has initiated a new program to keep David Letterman interns at arms length from the host.
David Letterman may have violated CBS rules on bosses having relationships with their employees, but there's a catch -- Dave doesn't work for CBS.
David Letterman issued a "sincere apology" to his wife during the monologue of his show earlier today -- wasting no time in addressing his controversial handling of the extortion plot against him.
