Lawyer: Letterman Suspect Was Shopping Screenplay, Not Blackmailing
Posted Tuesday 10 November 01:52 PM By: PopEater / Wire Services
A news producer accused of blackmailing
David Letterman in exchange for keeping quiet about his sexual affairs was only trying to sell the late-night comic a screenplay, the producer's lawyer said at a hearing Tuesday. Robert J.
"Joe" Halderman's attorney asked a Manhattan judge to dismiss the attempted first-degree grand larceny charge.
Gerald Shargel said that Halderman was merely trying to sell Letterman a screenplay when he approached him with the package left in Letterman's car.
"There was no extortion. There was a screenplay for sale," Shargel said. There was a commercial transaction. Nothing more."
An attorney for Letterman called the host the victim in the case and derided Shargel's claim that Halderman was merely trying to sell a screenplay.
"It's classic blackmail, no matter how Mr. Halderman's lawyer wants to dress it up," Daniel Horwitz said.
Prosecutors have said Halderman left a bizarre and threatening package in Letterman's car on Sept. 9, demanding $2 million to keep quiet about some of the "Late Show" host's dalliances. The materials included a letter, a synopsis of a supposed screenplay that said Letterman's world would "collapse around him" when information about his private life was disclosed, photos, personal correspondence and portions of a diary, authorities said.
The diary entries were allegedly written by Halderman's former girlfriend and outlined her affair with Letterman.
Authorities then taped two conversations between Letterman's lawyer and Halderman - including an exchange in which the lawyer gave Halderman a phony $2 million check, the Manhattan District Attorney's office said. Halderman was arrested after depositing it, prosecutors said.
The day before prosecutors unveiled the case last month, Letterman divulged it on his show, acknowledging he had had sex with women who worked for him.
Halderman, 51, a producer for CBS' "48 Hours Mystery," has pleaded not guilty. He could face five to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Comments
(12)Add a comment
Tuesday 10 November
By Dian
Does this lawyer think people are that stupid to believe this jackass was not trying to blackmail Letterman. I swear sometimes these Lawyers think the public is daft. In the words of Judge Judy "don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining."
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By rinki2x
If I wanted someone to think it was raining, I'd pee on their heads, not their leg.
Tuesday 10 November
By Gia
You have got to be kidding? Does this idiot think that anyone is going to beleive that story. A screenplay? What a joke! Any lawyer who uses that as a defense is a creative fool!
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By Dave
This is the best this guy could think up?
He should'nt be in a creative industry.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By Joel Ervin
And if you believe this, I've got some beach front property in Phoenix for ya.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By dsherline
Halderman's a low life criminal. What you think of Letterman isn't the point. Halderman's attorney is claiming the demand for 2 million was a commercial transaction. A commercial transaction? You don't demand anything if you're trying to reach an agreement on a comercial transaction. You sit down and try to work out the details.
Reply
Thursday 12 November
By Jim in AR
Actually, this whole thing is a screenplay. Soupy Sales would have been great in the role of the attorney.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By john
B. S. , what a joke. Stick the jerk behind bars where he belongs.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By andy
who do I have to F to sell my screenplay, or even to get someone to read it! Well that didn't work maybe the next one he'll have to try is "who do I have to kill?" it just goes to show you how hard those infamous doors to get in the biz are, he's even in the biz -producer- and he can't get someone to look at his work. It use to be "couldn't get arrested" well now you can!!! It does keep the competition at bay.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By andy
tell you what I'll give the prosecution and or the judge 30 years to see if they can sell a screenplay... or even get someone to look at it... then they can convict him. It won't happen!! He'd never be convicted.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By mroneoftheguys
Ok..Ok....one yr probation...next case..............
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By Red
The both of them are low lifes. Blah, blah, blah!
Reply