Letterman 'blackmailer' in deep debt

3 Oct 2009, 4:33 pm   -   Source: AP
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A crime-show producer who prosecutors said was desperate and deep in debt has been charged with trying to blackmail David Letterman for $US2 million ($A2.3 million) in a plot that forced the late-night comic to acknowledge having sex with women who worked for him.

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A crime-show producer who prosecutors said was desperate and deep in debt has been charged with trying to blackmail David Letterman for $US2 million ($A2.3 million) in a plot that forced the late-night comic to acknowledge having sex with women who worked for him.

The bizarre case has created a messy legal and professional problem for one of the CBS network's most valuable personalities.

Commentators and bloggers quickly accused Letterman of hypocrisy because he has made a career of mocking politicians mercilessly, often for their sexual transgressions.

From a strictly business perspective, Letterman's revelations on Thursday's show were an immediate success: his overnight ratings were up 38 per cent over the same night a week ago, the Nielsen said.

It remains to be seen whether Letterman will suffer long-term damage just as his career appears to be peaking.
Letterman has taken over as the king of late-night in the ratings this summer, and last week he beat NBC's Conan O'Brien for the first time among young viewers.

Friday night's Late Show was taped in advance on Thursday, meaning Letterman will not be taping a post-revelation episode until at least Monday.

Jay Leno, Letterman's longtime late-night rival, did not waste a moment commenting on the situation. He kicked off his monologue on NBC's The Jay Leno Show on Friday with jokes about Letterman.

He opened: "If you came here tonight for sex with a talk show host, you've got the wrong studio."

Robert J. "Joe" Halderman, a producer for the true-crime show 48 Hours Mystery, has pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court as he was arraigned on one count of attempted first-degree grand larceny, punishable by five to 15 years in prison. He was released after posting US$200,000 bail.

Halderman's connection to Letterman was not immediately clear but public records show that until August he lived in Norwalk, Connecticut, with Stephanie Birkitt, a 34-year-old who works on the Late Show staff and used to work at 48 Hours.

Birkitt was an assistant to Letterman on the Late Show and often appeared on camera with him in comedy skits. Last month she moved to Manhattan's upper West Side. There was no answer on Friday at a phone listed in her name.

It was unclear how many women were involved in relationships with Letterman, 62, who married longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko in March. The couple began dating in 1986 and have a son, Harry, born in November 2003.

All the affairs took place before Letterman's marriage, said Tom Keaney, spokesman for the host's production company, Worldwide Pants. Keaney also said Letterman "is not in violation" of the company's harassment policy "and no one has ever raised a complaint against him".

CBS issued a statement on Friday. "We think it was appropriate for Dave to disclose the matter publicly as he has, and we are continuing to co-operate with authorities," it said.

CBS would not address questions about whether Letterman faced any disciplinary actions for relationships with subordinates.

David Lande, a New York City-based civil attorney whose cases have included sexual harassment accusations, said Letterman presumably was in a position of power, with a voice in hiring, firing and promotions.

"So, to the extent that he had control over these factors with the women he was involved with, he could be subject to liability," Lande said. "I am sure CBS lawyers are reviewing the matter very carefully."

Shanti Atkins, president of ELT, a firm that consults on ethics and sex-in-the-workplace issues, said Letterman, his company and CBS could also be vulnerable to claims of sexual favouritism by others in the company if they believe people got ahead because they were sleeping with the boss.

New York assistant district attorney Judy Salwen told the judge Halderman was in debt, but did not elaborate.

"The evidence is compelling," she said. "It shows the defendant is desperate, and he is capable of doing anything."

Halderman, hands cuffed behind his back, stared at the floor during most of Friday's court hearing and said only "not guilty".

His lawyer, Gerald Shargel, said Halderman worked at CBS for 27 years and had no prior criminal record. He described him as an involved father who coached soccer, baseball and football, and has two children, aged 11 and 18.

"This story is far more complicated than what you heard this afternoon," Shargel said outside court, but he would not elaborate.

Halderman earned about $214,000 in 2007, according to papers filed in Stamford Superior Court. He was ordered in 2007 to pay his ex-wife $6800 a month in child and spousal support until May 2011, when the payments will be reduced to $5966 until May 2014.

He had asked for a reduction to $2039 per month because his ex-wife, Patty Montet, was sharing a house in New Canaan with a man. But Montet argued - and the judge agreed - that her living arrangement was for convenience and not romantic. Montet also said Halderman was getting $1500 a month from Birkitt.

 

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Your Comments

Yawn

opusone - from borsi@optusnet.com.au, 3 years ago

So,What?

insipid

marcus - from sydney, 3 years ago

I think Letterman will be disappointed with the complete lack of interest about anything remotely related to him

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