In article ,
"RJ" wrote:

Here's a topic for discussion;

it's claimed that;
Rush's houskeeper blackmailed him,
threatening to tell of his addiction
unless he paid her $$$$$.

If you threaten to tell the truth about someone
unless they pay you, is it blackmail ?



Yep.



Would it be a criminal offense ?


It is.


How is it different from extortion ?


They may be two different names for the same thing.



If they can prove that she took money to keep quiet,
has she committed a criminal offense ?


Yep.



further
If she took the cash, then told anyway,
would she be liable in civil court for "breach of contract" ?


don't know.