Letterman's "Desperate" Extortion Suspect Out On Bail

Now the dirty laundry of Robert "Joe" Halderman, the 48 Hours news producer who is accused of trying to shake down David Letterman for $2 million, is being spilled. While Halderman allegedly threatened to expose Letterman's various sexual relationships with staffers, a former co-worker told the Daily News that Halderman "was a charmer and he was very flirty...But he was definitely a troublemaker, the kind of man [that] women go after because he's trouble."

Stephanie Birkitt

Halderman, who pleaded not guilty to attempted grand larceny in the first degree and is now free on $200,000 bail, was described as being "desperate" and "deep in debt"—his child/spousal support payments were around $6000-7000/month on a roughly $214,000 salary. While he's described as a terrific news producer, one colleague told the Observer, "His personality is one that pushes the envelope. As a breaking news producer that's what you need, but you could see how he would be living on the edge a bit." But Dan Rather told the Daily Beast, "Frankly, I couldn’t be more astonished that this guy was involved in something like this than if you came riding through my apartment on a hippopotamus."

Halderman was up until recently living with Stephanie Birkitt, a Late Show intern-turned-assistant who apparently had a relationship with Letterman. Sources tell the Post that Halderman stumbled onto Birkitt's diary with "steamy reminiscences" of her relationship with Letterman, and "got his hands on salacious e-mails between Birkitt and Letterman, as well as some photographs that showed them together." The source said, "He recognized a payday. He saw this as his retirement. He just didn't want to work anymore." His break-up with Birkitt also meant she wasn't helping pay rent.

From these materials, Halderman allegedly crafted a TV treatment, which he placed in Letterman's limousine with the demand for $2 million. Letterman and his personal lawyer agreed to meet Halderman once, but then contacted to the Manhattan DA's office for help. Eventually, Letterman's lawyer gave Halderman a $2 million check that was designed to bounce and after the check was deposited, he was arrested.

Letterman's production company Worldwide Pants said the talk show host's sexual relationships with staffers ended before he married the mother of his young child earlier this year. Worldwide Pants was also quick to point out: "Dave is not in violation of our policy and no one has ever raised a complaint against him." But some CBS executives are concerned and civil rights lawyer Debra S. Katz tells the NY Times, "CBS is definitely going to have to speak with him and find out who he had relationships with. They’re going to have to reach back and see if these women think that the relationships were welcome."

And Jay Leno poked fun as his one-time rival, offering up, "This guy who was trying to blackmail Letterman was a producer from the show ‘48 Hours.’ It could’ve been worse, at least it wasn’t a producer from ‘To Catch a Predator,'" "If you came here for sex with a talk show host, you came to the wrong place," and "I was once the victim of a plot. How do you think I wound up at 10 p.m.?" The Post reports that Jimmy Fallon joked, "There's a new book out called 'Why Women Have Sex' that says there are 237 reasons why women have sex. And folks, Letterman knows the top 10." But Conan O'Brien didn't mention it at all and when Drew Carey brought it up, he said, "No comment."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 3, 2009 10:26 AM

Comments [rss]

just saying

Letterman's production company is called Worldwide Pants? That certainly seems appropriate.

redhookreject

moral of the story, its really hard to live in NYC for 140,000 a year... its like 75 take home.

Mr Mel

We're looking at a desperate guy here. He must have had some talent or he wouldn't have gotten as far as he did in a tough business. His lawyers are probably interviewing Shrinks and he'll use a an "I was out of mind" excuse. I feel sorry for Letterman. Nobody has come forward and said they were sexually harassed or that he demanded sex for favors. These were consenting adults.

inoyourider

Alimony is BS, and I'm certain no child needs 1500+ spent on him/her each week.

He probably never dreamed Letterman would go the cops.

Can't believe he took a check.

If he hadn't asked for so much money maybe Letterman wouldn't have went to the cops and he could have gotten the cash easier.

Jen S

I can't get over how much $ his ex was getting. How can I get into this business?

just saying

First, find out the name of the lawyer who represented her.

JacqueMehoff

too bad letterman can't vote for bloomberg.

can any of his carpetbagger endorsers vote for him?

and to NS, have you seen the line for his show? nuff said.

and, NO CHECKS, maybe stupidity will be his excuse.

NannyState

Who are these people? It looks like an Ohio office party gone bad.

rcltrh

".. the kind of man [that] women go after because he's trouble."

Bleech. He's disgusting looking with the personality to boot. And stupid to take a $2 mil check? Geez he deserves to be caught. Dave should have him on "stupid criminal tricks." As for Dave, I would have been more surprised if he HADNT been having sex with the interns. Who really cares. I admire Dave for spilling it all on TV.

Steven

I'd have taken 2 million in CASH. Then leave NYC in a hurry.

tnturner

Yea! Another classic Dan Rather quip.

Georgina

I still can't belive he took a check.

ANGRYGOD11

The check makes sense as the blackmailer didn't dream Letterman would write a bad check or go to the DA.

However, cash is tax free. A bloated bank check for a script isn't.