Or maybe he received a phone call: "We know about <that> mistake you made <years> ago. / We will publish what you said on <that> ocasion about <gays / women rights / racism / other sensitive subject>."
That wouldn't destroy the man though. People say shit all the time.
It would have to be something much more damaging to his character like child abuse or something, and well cooked too.
Even then, the timing is wrong. He'd wait and deliver his lawyer shot first, or cancel the case.
