Nov 10, 2009 12:23 pm US/Eastern
Letterman Plot Suspect Asks NY Court To Drop Case
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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Robert Halderman and David Letterman. (File)
Marc A. Hermann/Getty Images/Adam Rountree/AP
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The TV news producer accused of blackmailing David Letterman has asked a New York City judge to dismiss the extortion case against him.
A lawyer for Robert J. "Joe" Halderman says the TV producer was only trying to sell a screenplay when he contacted Letterman.
Halderman appeared Tuesday in a Manhattan court. Prosecutors say he demanded $2 million to keep quiet about the late-night comic's sexual affairs with staffers. He is charged with first-degree grand larceny.
Halderman's attorney, Gerald Shargel, says he plans to challenge the evidence presented to a grand jury.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office and Letterman's production company are not commenting. As for Halderman, he reportedly raised $100,000 for his legal expenses and is trying to raise more, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace.
Prosecutors 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" news magazine, has pleaded not guilty. He could face five to 15 years in prison if convicted.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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