Letterman, and CBS, are in potential legal trouble over this - and he knows it.
The $2 million extortion case will be a minor side show if he has not gotten in front of the potential lawsuits that could be coming down the pike for him and the network.
He has either already paid off these women to keep them "happy", or is going to right-quick.
The trial could damage Letterman immensely, as it could reveal him to be a leacherous abuser of his authority over women on his staff.
It will either go away for him at the cost of $$$$, or his career will crash and burn at the cost of even more $$$$$....
He doesn't have to pay anyone off. He said last night that they can talk if they want to or not if they don't. He intends to protect them and his family so he isn't naming names or telling people who or what happened. They are free to do so.
He did the right thing.