Halderman's Lawyer: Don't Rush to Judgment

Calls Suspect's Supposed Actions in Alleged $2M Extortion Plot Against David Letterman "Completely Out of Character"

(CBS)  Joe Halderman's attorney is urging the public not to rush to judgment over whether his client really tried to carry out the $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman that authorities say Halderman hatched.

Prosecutors say longtime CBS News producer Robert Joel Halderman (who's known as Joe), 51, threatened Letterman that he'd go public with word of affairs the late night star had had with female staffers of The Late Show With David Letterman" if Letterman didn't fork over the money. Authorities say they have tapes of Halderman negotiating with Letterman's lawyer and that Halderman tried to cash a phony $2 million check he got -- supposedly the hush-money he is accused of seeking.

Halderman pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted grand larceny charges, posted $200,000 bond and was released. The veteran producer of real-life crime program "48 Hours Mystery" has been suspended by CBS News.

Watch Letterman's Remarks
Photos: David Letterman

But on "The Early Show" Monday, high-powered criminal defense lawyer Gerald Shargel, who's representing Halderman, contended that, "First of all, this (the allegation) is so obviously out of character. Anyone who knows Joe Halderman knows that this is completely out of character, to the point of not making any sense, if you think about it.

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Halderman Pleads Not Guilty to Blackmail

"Here's a guy who is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, who has dealt with cops and wiretaps and undercover investigations virtually his entire life," Shargel remarked to co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "And the claim is that he intended to extort David Letterman in the way that is claimed? Look at the fact that there was a $2 million check. In the history of extortion, I don't think there's been a single case where the alleged extortionist took a check in payment. It just doesn't make any sense.

"I'm not saying he didn't take the check," Shargel continued, "but the question at the end of the day is, what was his intent? One of the things that the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, one of the elements of the offense, is that Joe Halderman had specific criminal intent. And I say to you and to the public that we shouldn't rush to judgment, because I think, at the end of the day, when the case is tried and after the cross-examination of David Letterman and the full story comes out, I'm confident that a jury will not find that specific criminal intent."

"All I'm saying," he later repeated, "is don't rush to judgment. All I'm saying is look at the character of Joe Halderman. Look at the fact that so many at this network who have worked with him over the years, who have known him literally for decades, have said that this is completely out of character with anything they know about Joe Halderman.

"He is a decent, competent individual who has never displayed any propensity or indication of wrongdoing, and he's entitled to the presumption of innocence and that's all I'm asking for at this point. ... I just want to say to the public don't rush to judgment."

[JessSmith]

Dear choufei, the only stupid person here is you. If you want to make an actual valid argument, you may want to start by using proper spelling and grammar. A lack of both clearly puts you already at a HUGE disadvantage for anyone believing what you have to say to be even remotely true, given that you can't be bothered to get the little things correct. Secondly, insulting other posters and calling them stupid because they do not agree with your "argument" is commonly known as a logical fallacy. Logical fallacies are flawed ways of reasoning to attempt to convince someone of a truth, when such is not a truth to begin with. It's wrong and quite frankly, no one here buys it either. Therefore, please stop spamming it, as it's already been widely discredited. Thirdly, if you are going to discuss matters pertaining to blackmail, I might suggest you actually research what the terms means, since you clearly do not have a grasp of it whatsoever. As well, when a fellow poster corrected you, you attempted to criticize the source without basis or justification. Once again, in doing so, you've committed yet another logical fallacy. Lastly, if you had bothered to actually read the details of the case and the circumstances surrounding it, you would understand that the only party who was caught red-handed committing a crime was Mr. Halderman, in attempting to extort $2 million from Mr. Letterman for the purposes of not revealing damaging information about his private life. While you might find Mr. Letterman's actions morally questionnable, the bottom line is that unless any of these women come forward and file a complaint that Mr. Letterman FORCED them into a sexual relationship in order to keep their jobs or advance in the workplace, and Mr. Letterman's overtures were UNWELCOMED, he has not broken the law.

The bottom line is as follows:
choufei, DO NOT SPEAK ON MATTERS FOR WHICH YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. You end up looking like an even bigger moron than we already know you are. To paraphrase a common saying, it's better for people to believe you're an idiot than to speak and remove all doubt.

[choufei]

The only thing you can do to support your point is to erase all my comments here!!!

If you think someone wrong is based on his bad spelling, then I tell you: You are already 100% wrong!!!

I know my spelling is not as good as you, but I am sure my knowledge is 100 times better than you!!!

Ok???

You are stupid showeb just by your this article here!!!

Tell you fact: This is the most stupid artical I have ever read in whole my life!!! Lacking the least logic!!!

[choufei]

Can you spell Japanese as good as japanese???

So, if you in Japan, you must a most stupid dummy person as your Japanese is worst in Japan!!!

[scubbasteve01]

Don't rush to judgement? Are you kidding? Halderman is an extortionist, a blackmailer!
'' Hey, buddy if you give me some money I won't tell anybody about this at all.''
Well we should be very afraid of this guy. Because this is the kind of guy that would maintain surveillance around a little kid's Piggy Bank. '' Hmm the jackpot I think that little kid might have some money."
Night vision goggles, camouflage, rope lines tied to the house! The Great Piggy Bank Robbery!
But people have affairs all the time this makes the institution of marriage look real great.
May he have lots of fun in prison avoiding sloppy fat guys with their stomachs hanging over their belts that want to extort him for something else.
'' Hey! You're the new guy right? How about a Mr. Good-Bar Candy Bar?''
Have a nice day Mr. Grand Larceny.

[ylloh1]

Letterman should invite Halderman a opportunity to present his side of the story to the late-night audience. Dave could use his live audience as a jury and at the end of the day a vote should be taken as to, guilty or not guilty.

[SamTCat]

I thought this Halderman guy might have had something of a defense before the details started trickling out about his personality - now I'm not so sure. If he's like a super arrogant guy, he probably knew what he was doing was embezzlement and he did it anyways because he thought he could get away with it, which ought to be easy for the prosecution to show. Yikes.

Incidentally, what kind of woman dates her boss, guys like twice her age, who have live-in girlfriends, when they have to keep the relationship a secret, that wasn't so much of a secret that others at the office didn't know about it such that it probably made her gossip fodder because she got perks because of it, which she gladly accepted? And who keeps love letters after the person they had an affair with ended up marrying the live-in girlfriend, only to have their new sugar daddy see them? Like who does that - I'll bet the authorities are looking into that to make sure she wasn't in on the extortion plot.

I guess that would be the defendant's best hope for getting a sweet plea deal, but for that to happen she'd actually have to have been in on it. And it just sounds like she likes sugar daddies, and kept 'trophies' of her exploits with Dave the way Monica Lewinsky kept that blue dress (ick), but who knows for sure at this point.

[MelissaCortes]

Hi im Melissa, im from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. =)

Todos los días veo su programa mientras hago ejercicio antes de irme a trabajar, y me encanta su programa. entiendo bien el ingles pero me cuesta trabajo expresarme.

les escribo pensando que les guatria saber que los ven en otras ciudades.

les mando muchos saludos =)...
byyee...

[cameraphone]

He probably wanted to have sex with Letterman also, but all he got was that lousy $2million check.

[Stevescomments]

Who Cares about Letterman , he spends his career attaching others and now that he is a "ratings victim" we are suppose to care about him ( yes I feel sorry for his wife/former girl friend and the son they produced while unmarried) but any sympathy for him sorry none . This is all a media blitz for CBS due to Letterman's sagging ratings. Again Who Cares.

[bobnjersey]

["Here's a guy who is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, who has dealt with cops and wiretaps and undercover investigations virtually his entire life," Shargel remarked to co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "And the claim is that he intended to extort David Letterman in the way that is claimed? Look at the fact that there was a $2 million check. In the history of extortion, I don't think there's been a single case where the alleged extortionist took a check in payment. It just doesn't make any sense. ]

looks like he's setting the stage to make a claim that his client was not attempting to extort ... but rather he was testing the allegation to confirm ... maybe as early research into a piece they were going to do on 48 hours.

he only needs to create doubt in the minds of a jury ... and since half the population are morons ... and he's one of the best defense attorneys you can have ... the jury is at a disadvantage.

the justice system is not about justice ... it's about who has played the game best.

[taxchurches]

I can't wait to hear this defense, this is going to have to be some incredibly convoluted scenario from the 4th dimension. If Letterman had ANY legit reason to give a check to this guy, why would he have called the police about it? The guy obviously asked for a check deliberately, so it WOULDN'T appear to be blackmail. But Letterman was smart enough to call his lawyer and the authorities up front. Right on, Dave. This was clearly cooked up between Halderman and Birkit to cash in.

[ampsanne]

I haven't seen any post yet where Halderman was in debt and needed money. Some of you seem to be judging Dave. We weren't there and don't know what went on. The man has a right to a private life. He was a single guy up to the time he married Regina, so what's the problem? Even some of your top entertainers are involved in extramartial affairs and I don't see you getting in a tizzy about that. Seems to me that Dave is the victim here and Halderman is guilty of extortion.