NEW YORK
New York Post
August 16, 2005 -- EXCLUSIVE
Lawyers for the reputed randy rector of St. Patrick Cathedral's and his sexpot assistant were set to meet with Manhattan prosecutors to file a criminal extortion complaint against her jealous hubby over his alleged threat to disclose a video of the pair at a Hamptons motel, sources said yesterday.
But the pair's proposed preemptive strike to go to the Manhattan DA was ditched after their lawyers learned that the husband had shown reporters the video.
The complaint — by Monsignor Eugene Clark and his aide, Laura DeFilippo — would have detailed how Laura's husband, Philip, allegedly threatened to release the video if his wife didn't cave in to his financial demands as part of a divorce settlement.
Philip DeFilippo, 46, wanted the family house, full custody of their two children, alimony and other monetary considerations, the sources said.
Philip DeFilippo first issued his threat soon after a private eye working for him shot a video of Laura, 46, and her 79-year-old boss, Clark, entering the cozy Amagansett motel on July 21, several sources said. The pair also was filmed leaving almost six hours later wearing different clothes.
After Laura rebuffed his threat, Philip allegedly contacted Clark and threatened to tell his boss, New York Archdiocese chief Edward Cardinal Egan, and the media about the video if he did not pressure Laura to meet his demands, the sources said. Clark also refused to bow to the threat.