TV producer: I didn't blackmail Letterman

Published on Friday 2 October 2009 22:04

A TELEVISION producer last night pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail US chat show host David Letterman over his affairs with members of staff.

Robert Halderman, a producer on the CBS network's true-crime series 48 Hours, demanded $2 million (1.25m) to keep quiet about the affairs, according to prosecutors.

Letterman stunned his studio audience and millions of viewers when he admitted the affairs during his late-night show on Thursday.

His studio audience appeared uncertain about whether he was joking as he launched into his revelations. But it soon became clear he was being deadly serious about the "bizarre experience".

Less than 24 hours later, Halderman, hands cuffed behind his back, appeared in a New York court. He stared at the floor during most of the hearing and said only "not guilty".

District attorney (DA) Robert Morgenthau said

Halderman had left a letter and other material for Letterman, whose show is also on CBS, earlier this month saying that he needed "to make a large chunk of money".

The letter told Letterman his world was "about to collapse around him" when information about his private life was disclosed. It said this would lead to "a ruined reputation" and severe damage to his professional and family life.

Letterman contacted his lawyer, who arranged a meeting with Halderman. At the meeting, Halderman demanded the money in return for not releasing the material, according to prosecutors. Letterman and his lawyer contacted the DA's office and the investigation began.

Letterman, who is married and has a six-year-old son, began Thursday's broadcast of the Late Show by walking on stage and briefly leaning on a pillar with his back to the audience. Then he gave a monologue, with jokes about Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin.

He said he was glad the audience was in a pleasant mood "because I have a little story that I'd like to tell you and the home viewers as well".

Three weeks ago, Letterman said, he had got into his car early in the morning and found a package with a letter saying, "I know that you do some terrible, terrible things and that I can prove you do some terrible things." He said the letter contained proof.

"I was worried for myself, I was worried for my family," Letterman said. "I felt menaced by this and I had to tell them all of the creepy things that I had done.

"The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show.

"My response to that is yes, I have.

"Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Yes, it would, especially for the women.

"It's been a very bizarre experience. I felt like I needed to protect these people. I need to protect my family. I need to protect myself. Hope to protect my job."

Letterman mixed in jokes while telling the story, keeping his audience off-guard. He said: "I'll be darned, Dave had sex."

Letterman and long-time girlfriend Regina Lasko married in March. The couple met in 1986 and their son, Harry, was born in November 2003.

It is the second set of embarrassing headlines for Letterman with in four months. In June, he apologised to Mrs Palin after making a crude joke about the former Republican vice-presidential candidate's 14-year-old daughter.

Although there was a small "fire Letterman" demonstration outside his studio later, CBS stood by its late-night star.

Letterman's CBS Late Show has been on the air since 1993. After nearly 15 years in second place to NBC's Jay Leno in the ratings, he took over the top spot this summer.