CBS employee charged with Letterman extortion plot

[Medusa]

My point is that even though what Letterman did was sleazy, it wasn't illegal, so unless Halderman has knowledge of an illegal activity to hold over Letterman's head, I don't see why Letterman felt he needed to protect himself by doing a preemptive strike, so to speak.

[Catty1]

I think if the press had got hold of it first, they would report only bits and pieces (due to time and space restrictions).

Besides, his taped version will save time in court!

Video of Dave telling the show audience about his wedding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQBtZulOSc0
Keep watching through the commercial break...to hear about the truck getting stuck in mud...etc)

"Top Ten Reasons I got Married"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Ekx-Dcj3Y&feature=fvw

[Edwina's Secretary]

I love the defense I heard his attorney give this morning. The blackmail was paid by check - $2 million. The attorney said never in the history of extortion has it been paid by check.

First question...how does he know that?
Second question - Doesn't that mean your client is an idiot in addition to a blackmailer?

[Catty1]

Doesn't that mean your client is an idiot in addition to a blackmailer?

[Catty1]

This surprises who????

Letterman says wife 'horribly hurt' by sex scandal
http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=2069155
Reuters Published: Monday, October 05, 2009


Reuters Talk show host David Letterman apologized on-air on Monday to his wife and staff for his role in a sex scandal. A CBS producer, Robert Halderman, inset, has been charged for an extortion attempt.

NEW YORK -- Comedian David Letterman said on Monday his wife has been "horribly hurt" by revelations of his sexual affairs exposed in an extortion plot against him and he apologized to staff of his popular late-night talk show.

The host of Late Show with David Letterman said in the taping of his Monday show that he will try to patch things up with Regina, whom he married in March after dating for more than 20 years. The two have a 5-year-old son, Harry.

"She has been horribly hurt by my behavior, and when something happens like that, if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it," Letterman told audiences, according to a statement from his company, Worldwide Pants.

"And at that point, there's only two things that can happen: either you're going to make some progress and get it fixed, or you're going to fall short and perhaps not get it fixed, so let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me."

He said he was "terribly sorry that I put the staff in that position. Inadvertently, I just wasn't thinking ahead ... my thanks to the staff for, once again, putting up with something stupid I've gotten myself involved in."

On Thursday, Letterman told audiences he had been victimized in an extortion plot by a man who threatened to write a screenplay or book about "all the terrible stuff" Letterman had done. The talk show host then admitted to having had sexual affairs with women employed by his show.

One day later, Robert "Joe" Halderman, a producer for CBS news program 48 Hours, was indicted on a charge of grand larceny for seeking $2-million in hush money from Letterman. Halderman faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

On Monday, Halderman's attorney Gerald Shargel took to U.S. morning talk shows to proclaim his client's innocence and say that Letterman's version of the story was only one side.

"David Letterman didn't give his (Halderman's) side of the story, David Letterman gave what he wanted the public to know," Shargel said on NBC's Today show.

"He wanted to get out ahead of the story, and that's exactly what he did," Shargel said of Letterman.

Shargel said it was unlikely that Halderman would have sought to extort Letterman by taking a $2-million cheque, because that is not how extortionists normally operate.

He declined to detail what may be his client's defense, but added that the veteran journalist has reported on crime stories for years. "He knows all about cops and wiretaps. And to suggest that he was trapped in an extortion plot is preposterous," the attorney said.

Shargel said he looked forward to questioning Letterman on the witness stand.

Court documents show Halderman owed an ex-wife $6,800 a month in child and spousal support, and authorities have said he is deep in debt.

© Thomson Reuters 2009

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/sto...#ixzz0T6sWxJEB

[RICHARD]

NEW YORK -- Comedian David Letterman said on Monday his wife has been "horribly hurt" by revelations of his sexual affairs exposed in an extortion plot against him and he apologized to staff of his popular late-night talk show.

Top Ten reasons your life just got a little more difficult...

10.Your wife does not understand that YOU are the victim in the story.

9. You will beat Sarah Palin unto the pages of Playboy because you are a bigger "boob" than she is.

8. Your apology to the staff is geared toward the women you didn't sleep with.

7. You tell your writing staff, "No more sex jokes, I need to reform my image!".

6. You really never had an image.

5. Tripp Palin laughs at you and he's never seen your show!

4. You have to open up your secret apartment above the studio to the hired help.

3. The date on your "private sex life" expired on 10/01/09.

2. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, you can kick yourself in the arse a lot easier!

1. You didn't "poop where you ate", you were only "having sex where you worked"!


Again, this is my obsession/most fave video clip.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jfYacp-r4

[Edwina's Secretary]

Too, too, too funny! The usual Law and Order posters now are suspicious that Letterman was unhappy about being blackmailed.

He must have "something to hide" or else why would he go to the police to report a crime.

Blame the victim....of incest, extortion, whatever....

[Twisterdog]

Keep it in your pants and you won't have to worry about extortion in the first place, will you now?

I have no sympathy for him. He is a scumbag. Married means married. Period.

[Catty1]

Yeah, no one here has really said anything about Halderman.

I guess what he did was totally ok? Tearing out a page from his ex-girlfriend's diary to put in the package he left in Dave's car?

Should he be a saint for causing Letterman to fess up?

Here's Dave's apology from last night:
http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_s...ghts&play=true

And his monologue...worth the 5 minutes...
http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_s...i6EFjNDJaOECiH

[Grace]

Keep it in your pants and you won't have to worry about extortion in the first place, will you now?

I have no sympathy for him. He is a scumbag. Married means married. Period.

If you are referring to Letterman, he was not married when the encounters occurred.

[pomtzu]

Geeze - I get so sick of hearing of all the politicians and "celebs" having affairs! Who the heck really cares?? If the truth be known, probably about 75% of all of them do - and just don't get caught - so we never hear about it.

Isn't there anything more news worthy than who's zoomin' who, and who can't keep their pants zippered???

[Medusa]

zoomin'

Made me LOL. Just when I think I've heard all the expressions for you-know-what, I hear another one. And I agree w/you, btw. Who gives a fig about whom Letterman is sleeping with except for his wife or his girlfriend or both. I really don't even care about the politicians' sex lives either except that, unlike celebrities, we have to put our trust in them. Even an indiscretion on their part doesn't bother me too much unless it's someone like Sanford who just disappeared and made up that ridiculous story. Celebrities, though? Who cares.

[RICHARD]

I have to call you all out on ths one.

THe encounters happened BEFORE he got married.

So, It's o.k. to have a fling when you are not married, but in a relationship?
Again,

If your husband admitted to having a fling while he was dating you, before you got married, you will have no problem with it what so ever?

I'll have to remember to use my wit, charm and pair of puppy dog eyes to get out of the mess...


I can see me closing the door of my house for the last time and having the music playing in the back ground..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jfYacp-r4

[Edwina's Secretary]

I have to call you on this one.

Ensign
Edwards
Stanford
Craig
Duvall*

All married and except for Edwards....I don't recall your moral outrage over their behavior???

In fact...you "forgave" Duvall.

Different standards?

Or different politics?

So amusing...

I've said it before - as long as it isn't me, my husband, a child, and is consentual - have sex with whomever you want. Not my business. But please...don't be a hypocrite!

*Duvall - former CA state politician who discussed the intimate details of his sexual activity with two lobbyist - into a live microphone.

[RICHARD]

Top ten reasons that pre/extramarital sex will come back to haunt you??

10. Eliot Spitzer paid for sex and got caught!

9. The lesion on your groin matches the one your GF/wife has on her hip.

8. You may have to have that birds and bees talk when your son comes home from 6th grade crying.

7. Uma, Oprah, Uma, Oprah.....Names you'll never yell during that 'special moment'.

6. Wasilla looks like a place to buy vacation property.

5. You'll take your son to a WNBA game and he has sex with a player during half time.

4. Eliot Spitzer isn't laughing at you.....he's guffawing!

3. You realize that the bald headed guy playing keyboard is also kinda creepy.

2. "Love you honey" rings kinda hollow, when you say it?

1. 18 years dating the same woman does get old after a while. Add five of married life and all bets are off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jfYacp-r4