Letterman Possible Former Lover May Be Key

(CBS)  A woman said to be a significant part of Dave Letterman's fairly recent past may hold a key to his future -- and that of the man who allegedly tried to extort Letterman out of $2 million, according to a longtime sexual harassment attorney.

Veteran CBS News producer Robert Halderman (known as Joe), 51, , posted $200,000 bond and was released. He's been suspended by CBS News.

Prosecutors charge that Halderman threatened to go public with word of affairs Letterman had engaged in sex with staffers of his show if the late-night host didn't give Halderman the $2 million.

It was the star himself who first revealed the alleged plot, and that he'd been having the sexual relationships, on "The Late Show with David Letterman" Thursday night.

CBS News Correspondent Bianca Solorzano reports that, "One of the women alleged to have been involved with Letterman is his former assistant, Stephanie Birkitt."

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Birkitt, 34, and Halderman lived together from early 2005 until August of this year at his Norwalk, Conn. home, Solorzano says, adding, "Sources close to Halderman claim the intimate relationship between Letterman and Birkitt began in December 2007."

By August, Birkitt and Halderman had separated and she moved out, and in September, Halderman began his alleged shakedown of Letterman, Solorzano says.

Letterman then reported the blackmail plot to the New York district attorney's office, Solorzano continues. Law enforcement sources tell CBS News that, at the last two meetings with Letterman's lawyer in September, Halderman was recorded, on both audio and videotape, demanding $2 million. A day later, on Oct. 1, Halderman deposited a bogus check for $2 million dollars and was arrested.

On "The Early Show" Wednesday, CBS News legal analyst Lisa Bloom -- a sexual harassment law expert for a decade -- told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez that, even if it's proven that Letterman had a relationship with Birkitt while she was living with Halderman, "I suppose his defense may rest on diminished capacity -- that he was so upset and enraged by the fact that his girlfriend was involved with David Letterman, he didn't know what he was doing, he didn't know what he was thinking. That may help him a little bit at sentencing, but it's not going to help him at the guilt phase, as to whether or not he committed extortion. That's going to be based on the audiotape, the videotape and, of course, that $2 million check."

Another possible Halderman defense strategy may be to claim Birkitt was sexually harassed by Letterman, but, observes Bloom, "The only person who's claimed sexual harassment in this case thus far is the defense attorney for Halderman. No woman has come forward and made a claim. Now, sexual harassment is not a defense to extortion. They're two entirely different theories. The only possible way it could be relevant to the extortion case is if Halderman's going to say he accepted that $2 million as a payment for a sexual harassment claim on behalf of Stephanie Birkitt. But that doesn't make a lot of sense. He's not an attorney for he, she's not the one who received the check. So, so far no proof in support of that claim and no real explanation from the defense attorney as to how the two claims are connected."

In any event, Bloom says, Birkitt "is key. And she hasn't spoken out yet. And she's the woman at the center of this (possible) love triangle, to some extent. It's gonna be very interesting to see whether she comes forward and supports Halderman's claim that she was sexually harassed by David Letterman, or if she's going to say Halderman did this entirely on his own. Yes, maybe she was involved with both of them, but she's not making any kind of claims against Letterman (at least not yet)."

[Objectivate]

This is fundamentally an issue of discrimination. If 3 staff members are having sex with a supervisor (someone who decides assignments), then those staff will get preferential treatment for assignments. Let's say Dave had 10 staffers, 5 men, 5 women. Let's say he had sex with 3 women. The remaining 7 would not likely get the on-air assignments or other job opportunities. Furthermore, their resumes would not look as good as those who were having sex with him. The women having sex are w***ing themselves to get ahead. The other 7 (or even just 1 matters) will have a poorer resume, and not be promoted at the same rates.

[dblbar1]

"He needs to be voted out of office. Let his wife divorce him and take his money"

voted out of WHAT office?

[sealbreath]

Why are we taking sides in this? It seems that everyone involved did something wrong, if not illegal. Halderman for extortion, Letterman for sexual harrassment, and the women for, well at best using Dave. It seems like all of these people did something not quite right and the public is speaking up about it. To the defenders of any of the parties, me thinks thee doth protest too much.

[aubfmet]

From the timeline I read he wasn't married, but he was living with the mother of his child and raising that child with her. Not married - what does that mean. Letterman has dragged every every adulterous politician thru the coals. He needs to be voted out of office. Let his wife divorce him and take his money.

[jimmyc1955]

So all you who are blaming the women here - you seem to miss the point, like for Clinton, that somebody in a position of authority over a another is using that power to coerce sex. That is about as wrong as you can get.

You may want to blame her - but he has the power and position to make it stop, fast but he decided that sex with a subordinate was ok. You have to wonder how many others are out there that have legal agreements to remain silent, if any.

But the hypocrite factor is just screaming for comment. He ripped so many people, Palin and her daughter come to mind, as if he had some morally superior position. He has just proven he is a creepy, self centered predator with no moral or ethical bones to his body.

He should do what the insisted that the NY Governor do - resign. As far as I am concerned he is a smarmy, lying, creepy old man who should be kept away from women and children.

But then entertainment has always claimed exceptional legal status with regards to predatory sexual practices. Just ask Woody Allen and Roman Polanski they surely understand that for "artist" like themselves a woman's individual rights are not important.

[billpl-2009]

she's been in bed with both of them
would't doubt if she's guilty too

[erasmus111]

by tmittelstaed October 7, 2009 5:42 PM EDT
So, Stephanie Birkitt was living with her boyfriend and porking Letterman on the side for 1 1/2 years. Proof that woman can be just as sleasy as men when it comes to adultery. Halderman should have outed Birkitt when he threw her a s s out in the snow.


Has any story actually said that she was having sex with David Letterman for 1 1/2 years, or are you just assuming that it went on that long?

And did he throw HER ass out in the snow, or did she leave him? It said that he read her diary, but I thought it was AFTER she left. I thought she may have accidently left it behind. I don't recall reading who left who.

[erasmus111]

I just read another story and it said that Halderman THOUGHT she was still in a relationship, but it didn't say that was true. David Letterman said it was over a long time ago. Also Halderman did read the diary before she left, but he read it quite a few months before they actually separated. And it was HER that moved out. It didn't say that he kicked her out. After all, she still remained there for months after he read that diary.

[dwilson59]

Stephanie will write a book file a law suit then give speaches about women in the work place

[dwilson59]

Stephanie Birkitt nothing like sleeping your way to the top.

[tmittelstaed]

So, Stephanie Birkitt was living with her boyfriend and porking Letterman on the side for 1 1/2 years. Proof that woman can be just as sleasy as men when it comes to adultery. Halderman should have outed Birkitt when he threw her a s s out in the snow.