Prominent people, and religious/faith/moral leaders in particular, are going to be big targets of extortion over any moral failings they may have had in their lives.
I recall there was an extortion attempt against Marcus Lamb, the TV preacher, over an affair. His wife had forgiven him, and they had worked on their marriage. It was years later that someone tried to extort millions from them to keep quiet. The Lambs decided instead to go public on their TV show about the experience. In doing so, it took the wind out of the sails of the extortionists.
“Prominent people, and religious/faith/moral leaders in particular, are going to be big targets of extortion”
Prominent religious people also are big targets of Satan. If he can take them down, it tarnishes Christianity. Even though Falwell, an attorney, isn’t an actual “religious leader”, he is connected to religion via the college.