The National Enquirer threatened Jeff Bezos saying they'd publish private photos of his unless they complied with what in essence is a political demand.
This is how the press works.
They're not always this heavy handed, but this level of sleaze is not uncommon and is certainly nothing new.
George Seldes explains in the film "Tell the Truth and Run."
Note: The arrogance in this particular case is pretty stunning. Bezos is, after all, the richest man in the world and the owner of the Washington Post.
There must be dozens, maybe hundreds, of cases like this where the victims do not come forward.