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18 U.S.C. § 875(d) makes it a federal crime to send an interstate communication with the extent to extort a thing of value from someone by threatening to injure his "property or reputation." 
Is a public statement a thing of value? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But the 8th Cir. has held that an apology can be a thing of value under the statute if the person demanding it wants it badly enough.
But the 8th Cir. has held that an apology can be a thing of value under the statute if the person demanding it wants it badly enough.
That was a case in which a guy created fake social media accounts portraying a woman who'd spurned him as a prostitute and exotic dancer. He said this was protected speech. The court said it was stalking. media.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/17/08/1…
The National Enquirer's parent company specifically promised the Justice Department last year that it would "commit no crimes whatsoever."
