Letterman Confessed Sex With Staff Members, Targeted by Extortionist By EMILY FRIEDMAN and KATE McCARTHY http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/cbs-producer-robert-halderman-allegedly-blackm ail-david-letterman/Story?id=8730770&page=1
Oct. 2, 2009 - A veteran CBS News producer is allegedly the man who attempted to blackmail late-night comedian David Letterman for $2 million, threatening to go public with the information that Letterman had sexual relationships with members of his staff. Robert J. Halderman, 51, a longtime Emmy-award winning producer for CBS News' "48 Hours," was arrested Thursday in a sting operation in which Letterman handed over a phony $2 million check. Halderman lived until recently with Stephanie Birkitt, who had previously been a personal assistant to Letterman. Letterman, 62, confessed during a taping of "The Late Show" for broadcast Thursday night that he had had sex with members of his staff. "This morning I did something I've never done in my life," Letterman told his audience. "I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury." Letterman revealed to the studio audience that he received a package three weeks ago containing a threat to reveal those indiscretions "if Letterman did not pay the individual a large sum of money" -- specified in a later communication as $2 million. He said that the package contained a letter that said, "I know that you do some terrible terrible things, and I can prove that you do these terrible things ... and sure enough what was contained in the package was proof that I do terrible, terrible things." Howard Kurtz, a media critic for The Washington Post, said Letterman handled the situation "reasonably well" but cautioned that late-night comedians have a "delicate" relationship with their audience, especially because they often point out the infidelities of others. "Somebody's going to put together a tape with all the jokes Letterman has done about womanizing public figures," Kurtz told Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America." "So if he becomes a punchline himself, I don't think he will lose his job over this, but clearly it undermines his job as a performer." Letterman Delivered a Phony $2 Million Check to Alleged Blackmailer The audience laughed nervously as Letterman described how he'd called his attorney and then set up a meeting with his blackmailer in which the plotter told him he wanted to write a screenplay about him that included sordid details of the talk show host's life. At a third meeting, Letterman, with the assistance of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, handed the blackmailer a phony $2 million check. It was then that the extortionist revealed he also planned to write a book about Letterman's life, also revealing details of his past sexual infidelities. "A companion piece to the screenplay," Letterman cracked weakly. Letterman then acknowledged unspecified sexual relationships with female staff members to a silent audience. "My response to that [allegation] is, 'Yes I have.' Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would," Letterman said. "Especially for the women," he managed to joke. "I feel like I need to protect these people. I need to certainly protect my family," he said. ABC News could not reach Halderman for comment, but CBS News released a statement saying that he has been suspended from his job as the investigation continues. Earlier this year, Letterman announced on his show his marriage to longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko, who he began dating in the 1980s. The pair have a son, Harry Joseph Letterman, whose impending arrival Letterman announced on his show in 2003. He did not mention his wife specifically or any other details of these affairs during his Thursday taping. It's unclear from the Worldwide Pants statement when Letterman's sexual relations with his female staffers occurred. The comedian went on to thank the Special Prosecution Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's office for its assistance, which culminated in the Halderman's arrest early in the day Thursday. CBS issued a statement late Thursday night regarding the investigation and Letterman's decision to speak out on his show: "Mr. Letterman addressed the issue during the show's broadcast last night, and we believe his comments speak for themselves." Colleagues were dumbstruck by the charges against Halderman. "I really can't believe the charges against him. I don't understand the motivation," said one producer who had worked with Halderman in the past. The producer described Halderman not only as a well paid producer but one who was a "top shelf producer, highly regarded by CBS." Halderman was routinely entrusted with top stories ranging from the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, to assignments for "48 Hours." Halderman has been married and divorced twice, according to public records. He had two children with his second wife as well as three step-children. Birkitt told her alma mater Wake Forest University that she originally interned in the writers' department at "Late Show" in 1996, and after graduating in 1997 worked at "48 Hours." She later returned to "Late Show." In a subsequent interview with EW.com, Birkitt denied Letterman was the cranky persona he appears to be on TV. "He's the best boss I've ever had," she said. This is not the first extortion plot alleged to have targeted Letterman. In 2005, Kelly Frank, who worked as a handyman on Letterman's Rocky Mountain ranch in Montana, was arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap Letterman's then-16-month-old son, Harry. Frank pleaded not guilty but got 10 years in jail for overcharging Letterman. At the time, the comedian took it all in stride. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing my house on television while I'm in my house watching television," Letterman said on a March 2005 show. Letterman Pointed Out Infidelities of Others Letterman was a longtime bachelor after his first marriage ended in divorce in 1977. He has had at least one relationship with a co-worker in the past. Merrill Markoe, a comedian and author who was his longtime writer, was his girlfriend in the 1980s. Even so, Letterman has joked about others' infidelities. Numerous jokes and at least two of Letterman's famous Top 10 lists highlighted South Carolina Gov. Rick Sanford's extramarital affair. Letterman included the "Top 10 Surprising Facts About Mark Sanford" and the "Top 10 Gov. Mark Sanford Excuses" during the days after the governor admitted to having an affair this June. Letterman has been a fixture on late night network television since 1982 after a short stint with a morning show on NBC. As host of "Late Night" on NBC and then "The Late Show" on CBS, he is second only to Johnny Carson as the longest-running late night host. ABC News' Eileen Murphy, Michael James and Lindsay Goldwert contributed to this report. *********************************** * POST TO MEDIANEWS@ETSKYWARN.NET * *********************************** Medianews mailing list Medianews@etskywarn.net http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews