CBS Stands By Dave Letterman (For Now)

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 3rd 2009 11:26AM

Publicly, David Letterman has received the full support of the high-ups at CBS. Behind the scenes, however, execs are bit more skittish. Sources inside the company told the New York Times on Friday that Letterman could possibly lose their backing if more damning information about his flings with employees come to light.

Letterman has a long history of dating young women that work for his production company, Worldwide Pants, one longtime associate of his told the Times. He carried on a longtime relationship with a head writer on 'Late Night' and he is said to have been linked to at least two previous assistants, including Stephanie Birkitt, who is at the center of the alleged extortion plot against the star.

However, CBS and Letterman announced on Friday that all affairs took place before he married his longtime girlfriend, Regina Lasko, in March.

What does have CBS brass up nights is not the timing of the trysts, but the question of whether his actions ever crossed the line over to sexual harassment, or showed that he exhibited an abuse of power. According to the Times, CBS sought assurances that none of the women were under age.

Birkitt was Letterman's top assistant for several years, but there has been no indication she was harassed or promoted because of the relationship. Birkitt's acquaintance Robert "Joe" Halderman pleaded not guilty Friday to blackmailing Letterman.

Letterman is self-employed, so his actions aren't actually subject to CBS policy. Inter-office romances are not frowned upon by Worldwide Pants, his company that produces 'The Late Show.' A spokesman issued a statement that read: "Dave is not in violation of our policy and no one has ever raised a complaint against him."

The spokesman said the policy "does not prohibit relationships within the company -- only that they cannot be tied to an employee's performance."

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Related to Letterman ...

Attorney Gerald Shargel, right, speaks to the Court on behalf of his client, Robert J. Halderman, foreground left, at Manhattan Supreme Court, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York. Halderman was arraigned on charges that he attempted to blackmail "Late Show" host David Letterman for $2 million, with information that Letterman had had a sexual relationship with several female staffers. Attorney Evan L. Lipton, listens in the center. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

POOL NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

David Letterman Snapshots

Robert J. Halderman appears in State Supreme Court in New York, Oct. 2, for an arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show.

Steve Hirsch, Pool / AP

Kevin Lane, next-door neighbor of Robert Halderman, arrives home and talks to reporters from his truck cab, in Norwalk, Conn., on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Lane said of Halderman, "He was active with his son and he never yelled." Halderman was arraigned on charges of extortion with regard to David Letterman, in New York this afternoon. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)

Kevin Lane, next-door neighbor of Robert Halderman, arrives home and talks to reporters from his truck in Norwalk, Conn., on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Lane said of Halderman, "He was active with his son and he never yelled." Halderman was arraigned on charges of extortion with regard to David Letterman, in New York this afternoon. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)

Attorney Evan L. Lipton, right, stands with his client, Robert J. Halderman, center, at Manhattan Supreme Court, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York. Halderman was arraigned on charges that he attempted to blackmail "Late Show" host David Letterman for $2 million, with information that Letterman had had a sexual relationship with several female staffers. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Robert J. Halderman appears in State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, for an arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show. AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Robert J. Halderman, left, joins attorneys Evan L. Lipton, center and Gerald Shargel at State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, for his arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show. AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Robert J. Halderman, center left, appears at State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, during his arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Attorney Gerald Shargel appears for Robert J. Halderman in Manhattan Supreme Court, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York, where Halderman is arraigned on charges that he attempted to blackmail "Late Show" host David Letterman for $2 million, with information that Letterman had had a sexual relationship with several female staffers. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Tags: CBS, david letterman, DavidLetterman, stephanie birkitt, StephanieBirkitt, the late show, TheLateShow, worldwide pants, WorldwidePants

Comments

(153)

Saturday 03 October

By wilkins002

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

How many single men and single women have affairs? I have read Letterman's book and he even tells about who he dated. Now that he is a married man with a child, he really wants to leave that behind. Some people are so money hungry that they don't care who they hurt. Let it be!

By Susan

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

David Letterman is THE BEST late night show on and has been for years. He stated he had these affairs PRIOR to his marriage and I accept that. How many married men have these affairs for years and never own up to them. Dave at least had the class to get on tv and tell the world himself what happened. He was male, he was single and he had every right as long as he had a willing participant. I am appauled at this guy from 48 hours. How money hungary can one get?

Sunday 04 October

By tim

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

If everyone single is having sex why would this man believe Letterman would pay anything ? Couldn't Letterman just ignore the requests ? After all he had done nothing wrong . Could it be Letterman knew he was wrong and if he did not take a preemptive srike by notifying authorities his career could be over. Remember Letterman when asked the simple question, " Do you want to see our troops win in Iraq " Refused to reply. I do not know if he is guilty here. I do know he is a weasel. Maybe once a weasel always a weasel

By roz

Dave's a doosche. He cheated on the woman he'd been living with long before he married her. She should hand him his balls on a small plate, take the kid and take Dave for millions,

By yelrap

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if that is the case, why worry about someone talking about it. Maybe his current story is a cover ?

By Ken Siemers Sr.

Letterman is a dirtbag. He goes after everyone else and his indisgressions are worse. He's a phoney and only thinks he's talented. When you think about it, just exactly what is he so good at? I think it's time for him to just go away.

By pjrox09

Total agreement. Character issues being a serial
philanderer. Once a cheat always a cheat.
The emperor has no clothes. Give me reruns of Johnny any day. We are forgetting the innocent and victims of the social fallout:Mom and the son.
If he cares about them so much maybe he should think about his actions. Self aggrandizing hypocrite. I now have more respect for Rush.. did i say that??
peace out

By Aggie

Is that you Sarah?

By pugz

i think he was "involved" with paul shafer!

By yelrpa

DITTO

By Kris

Maybe you should learn to spell the word "indiscretion" for starters....and OMG stop the presses, a single man had sex!How is this an indiscretion???? Do you even know the meaning of the word? Go out an get an education then come back and run your mouth!

Thursday 08 October

By AIDA

LETTERMAN IS INDEED A DIRTBAG. I'M WITH YOU. HE WAS WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND DURING THESE AFFAIRS EVEN HE WAS NOT MARRIED. MAYBE THE ONLY REASON HE MARRIED HER WAS BECAUSE HIS SON. HE IS WORST THAN DIRT. HE SHOULD BE SHAME OF HIMSELF HAVING A GOOD WOMAN IN HIS LIFE AND SLEEPING AROUND WITH OTHERS. NOW HE WANT TO MAKE IT LIKE A JOKE. SORRY, LETTERMAN YOU ARE THE JOKE. A DIRTY OLD JOKE. GET IT.

By Chuck

Apparently fornication is acceptable in our society.

By K. Sullivan

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Why yes, I do beleive it is. The only rule is "no harm, no foul"........

By Typical Engadget Tech-Nerd

Yes, fornication with multiple partners is acceptable to society if you are a star or an athlete, then it's totally expected.

By nanoja

give me a break. Letterman is just a host of show.
We watch, we don't watch, who cares. The fact that
he has slept around is NOBODY'S BUSINESS. This man
is not an elected official, is not a priest, is not
a kids coach, so why all the crap? Let's hold ALL
HOSTS, and for that matter, all TV PERSONALITIES
up to scrutiny. Guess how many will pass?

Monday 05 October

By Gunnar

... And tonite's Number 1 answer of a "TV Personality that wouldn't pass the 'Single (one) Sex Partner Test' is........ Geraldro Rivera!!!
Give that man a Canned Ham, oh wait he IS a canned ham!

By Sally

I'm pretty sure he had the child and was in a committed relationship, even though no married, before he decided to screw most his staff.....

By Steve

Really Sally? Tell us how you're so sure?

By Angie

Is Letterman a pig? Yes! Did he handle the blackmailer correctly? Yes! The best thing to do to neutralize a blackmailer is to come clean first. This will all die down, like all sex scandals and Dave is a smart man to know that.

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