CBS Producer Suspended for Trying to Extort David Letterman
An Emmy Award-winning CBS News producer has been suspended for allegedly trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman over sexual affairs that late night talk show host had with female employees.
Robert “Joe” Halderman — who worked on the news program 48 Hours — was arrested Thursday by two plain-clothes police officers outside the CBS News broadcast center in New York City on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree. If convicted, Halderman could face between 9 to 22 years behind bars.
On his late night show Thursday, Letterman, 62, shocked his audience by revealing that three weeks ago he got in his car early in the morning and found a package with a letter saying, “I know that you do some terrible, terrible things and that I can prove you do some terrible things.”
Letterman told his audience the letter contained proof.
He said he then called his lawyer to set up a meeting with Halderman, who threatened to write a screenplay and a book about Letterman unless he was given money.
Two meetings took place; during the last one, a fake check was delivered.
Letterman told his audience that he had to testify before a grand jury Thursday morning.
“I was worried for myself, I was worried for my family,” he said. “I felt menaced by this, and I had to tell them all of the creepy things that I had done.
“The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show,” he went on. “My response to that is yes, I have. Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Yes, it would, especially for the women.”
He added, “It’s been a very bizarre experience. I felt like I needed to protect these people. I need to protect my family. I need to protect myself. Hope to protect my job.”
UPDATE: Here’s the video of David announcing it on his show.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
Letterman should be fired immediately.
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Of course he shouldn’t get fired. Besides, if he does, he’ll just go and work for HBO or Comedy Central or something. I’d prefer he stay on broadcast television, just because he’s one of the only good shows left!
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
David Letterman has been open and honest about consentual sex. This does not diminish his viability of a comedian and host both of which he does superbly. My guess is that he didn’t have any dalliances after his marriage in March. There is no indication that any of the women involved had sex with him fearing they would lose their jobs if they did not. Forget it and just be glad that he is straight.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
How are you going to walk into a bank and expect to cash a 2 million dollar check?? bad move, idiot deserved to get caught.