Did David Letterman take lover Stephanie Birkitt on family vacations along with his wife and son?

The New York Post reports Letterman flew Stephanie to the island of St. Bart's in the Caribbean.
 
Several other Late Show staffers, not just Birkitt, were also taken on Letterman's vacations, sometimes in a private jet.  They were among the perks of working for Letterman, who is known to be a generous boss 

Published reports say Birkitt earned $200,000 a year, a huge salary for an assistant. 

The revelations may be part of a defense strategy to embarrass Letterman and force a plea bargain.

"If you are a defense attorney in this case you want to get this thing resolved and you want to get it resolved as quickly as you possibly can.  There's nothing good in it for anybody for this to stretch out over a long period of time," says In Session anchor Jack Ford.

INSIDE EDITION is also learning more about the alleged extortion plot.

Accused extortionist Robert "Joe" Halderman co-produced a 48 Hours Mystery episode, "Conspiracy to Kill," about a series of murders, and a $35,000 extortion demand.  The show was re-run in August, and there is speculation it may have inspired Halderman's alleged plot against Letterman, hatched just a few weeks later.

Meanwhile Fox News reports that it was Letterman's wife, Regina Lasko, who insisted that he make his now-famous on air apology.

But she was reportedly not happy that along with showing his contrition he told so many jokes about the situation.