Did Rage Fuel Alleged Plot Vs. Letterman?

(CBS)  It may have been jealous rage that was behind the alleged $2 million extortion plot longtime CBS News producer Joe Halderman is charged with trying to carry out.

He's accused of seeking to shake down the late night star for $2 million, threatening to make public information about Letterman having sex with women who worked for his show. Halderman has pleaded not guilty to attempted grand larceny counts and is free on 200,000 dollars bond, awaiting a scheduled Nov. 10 court appearance.

Letterman revealed on the air last week that he had indeed had sexual relationships with staffers.

Thursday's New York Post quotes sources as saying Halderman caught his then live-in girlfriend, Stephanie Birkitt, making out with Letterman as recently as August.

The Post says it happened while Letterman and Birkitt were in Letterman's car parked in the driveway of Halderman's home in Connecticut. And, says the Post, Halderman and Birkitt broke up a short time after that supposed incident.

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The tabloid says Letterman often drove his 34 year old assistant to the home she was sharing with Halderman.

With rumors swirling that Birkett has been banned from the set of "The Late Show with David Letterman," sources at the show tell CBS News she is actually on a paid leave of absence, and "The allegation that she's been banned from the building (is) completely untrue."

On Wednesday, reports CBS News Correspondent Bianca Solozano, Halderman was approached by reporters at his home for a statement. He said, "I know you have a job to do. I might as well make it easy on you guys. It's a beautiful day. I have some errands to run."

Letterman, who failed to specifically reference the extortion plot on Wednesday night's show, has seen the comedic tide turn somewhat. Politicians once ripe for his late night fodder, such as embattled South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, are giving the funnyman some advice of their own.

Sanford remarked, "There's a lot more introspection and soul-searching on the way down than there is on the way up."

[cbsblogger]

There is something about relationships, infidelity, and lying that brings out the worst in people even those with character.

So in the end I see Letterman paying a price and the perp and his cheating girlfriend being held less accountable.

[InMyHumbleOpinion]

The Late Show is elitist 8th grade humor. Nothing more.

[TheVarsityClub]

When Letterman stops making me laugh then I will have something to say, till then I could care less who he sleeping with.

[tomrobla]

Reports that Stephanie Birkitt was making 200K a year working for Letterman. She also going to law school at the same time. Doesn't sound like sex harassment.

[icanseeyou]

"Man," the "letters" are: S-C-U-M-B-A-G

[mistyblueshores]

I HAVE UTMOST RESPECT TO CBS TO AND ALL EMPLOYEES WORLDWIDE. IT IS NOT CRIME TO MEET SOMEONE TO FALL IN LOVE IN THE WORK PLACE. AS LONG AS BOTH PARTIES AND COMPANY WHERE THEY WORK WOULD BE AWARE OF THIS RELATIONSHIP BEFORE IT TURNS TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES.. I DO BELIEVE THAT DAVID LETTERMAN HAD MORE THAN 3 WOMEN PLUS HIS LONGTIME GIRLFRIEND AND RECENTLY MARRIED HER. THAT IS MEANS THAT CBS EXECUTIVES KNEW AND DID NOT DO TO STOP THIS. I WONDER,HOW MUCH INSURANCE POLICY CBS HAS AND CAN AFFORD TO PAY THESE KIND OF SCANDALS???? I DO BELIEVE CBS HAS MANY GREAT EMPLOYEES AND DO HAVE THEM INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER, AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THEIR OFFICES. HAVING AND MAKING LOW CLASS AND CHEAP SHOT ATTITUDE TOWARDS A MAN WHOM HE WORKED 27 YEARS AND REGARDLESS OF HIS DEBT OR MARITAL ISSUES NEVER BROUGHT SCANDAL ALL THOSE YEARS TO PUBLIC ACCEPT ONE MAN.. HE THOUGHT THAT HE CAN HAVE A SEX WITH HIS LOVER AND GO TO HIS HOME TO HAVE A SEX WITH HIS WIFE??? BOTH WORKED FOR HIM AND MANY OTHER LADIES LET HIM TO CONTROL AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIM DUE TO HIS FINANCIAL SUCCESS? WELL, I HOPE THAT CBS WHICH IS GREAT BROADCASTING COMPANY SHOULD NEVER PUT COMPANY NAME TO MAN LIKE DAVID LETTERMAN.. I WANT CBS TO STOP THIS.. IT IS BAD NEWS.. YOU HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES.. AND HE IS WOMANIZER AND PREDATOR.. ALL THOSE YEARS.. I HOPE THAT MS. BIRKITT READ THIS.. YOU ARE A PLAYER AND KNEW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PRODUCER.. AND I DO BELIEVE IT WAS A SWEET JUSTICE FOR YOU TO PLAY TO LET MRS. LETTERMAN KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN SLEEPING WITH YOU? GUESS WHAT.. YOU GOT WHAT YOU WISHED FOR..AND LET OTHER LADIES ALSO TO COME TO SURFICE THAT HE WAS NO GOOD MAN AND HE DID USED YOU AND MANY OTHERS IN HIS OFFICE AND PLACES SHOULD HAVE PROFESSIONALISM. HE IS 62 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD RETIRE WITH HUMILITY AND EMBARRESMANT WHICH HE COUSED TO YOUR COMPANY. I DO BELIEVE THERE WAS TWO MEN SLEPT WITH ONE WOMEN AND YOUR PRODUCER MOST DEFINIETLY "LOST" OR SNAPPED..WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT CBS AND MANY PEOPLE DID KNOW FOR MANY YEARS AND LET DAVID LETTERMAN TO HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND OF 20 YEARS. AND HE GOES TO HIS OFFICE AND SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS ASSISTANT AND OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE INTERNS TO GET A JOB??? AND HE USES THEM FOR HIS OWN NEEDS. IF I WAS A INTERN AND NO MONEY, NO JOB, AND GOOD OPPURTUNITY TO WORK WITH REPUTABLE BROADCASTING COMPANY TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE. DAVID LETTERMAN KNEW HOW TO USE YOUNG WOMEN TO LURE THEM TO HIS BED IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM A GOOD RECOMMENDATION? WITH BENEFITS.. HOW COULD YOUR COMPANY ALLOW THIS? DOES IT MEAN THAT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE IN DANGER IN YOUR COMPANY? THIS WAS NOT ONCE HAPPENED TO ONE WOMAN, IT IS MORE THAN 3 AND POSSIBLY 10 LADIES WILL AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. HEY LADIES...IF YOU HAVE SELF RESPECT TO YOURSELF.. NOW IT IS TIME TO GET AND LET THIS SICK GUY TO LET CBS TO FIRE HIM. HE IS NO GOOD, 62 YEARS OLD MAN MARRIED AND USING WOMEN TO HIS NEEDS AND LATER YOU ARE NOTHING BUT KLENEX TO PUT IT INSIDE HIS OFFICE TRASH CAN.. LET THIS PRODUCER TO KEEP HIS JOB.. I DO BELIEVE THERE IS MORE INFORMATIONS WILL COME TO SURFICE AND MS. BERKITT HAD INTENTION TO KEEP A BLACK BOOK DIARY. SHE DID NOT ONLY SLEPT WITH ONE MAN AND DID TWO PROFESSIONALS. SHE IS NOT STUPID. NOW, YOU CAN NOT FIRE HER.. SHE WILL SUE FOR WRONGFULL TERMINATION. SHE WILL SIT AND MAKE A MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CBS.. SHE IS MOST DEFITELY LUCKY ONE AT THIS GAME...HEY LADIES.. YOU SHOULD SURFACE YOUR NAMES SOON.. IF YOU DO NOT .. YOU WILL NOT HAVE A CHANCE BUT YOUR STATUTE OF LIMITAIONS MAY EXPIRE.. WITH MY UTMOST SINCERE RESPECT AND ADMIRE TO CBS MEMBERS.. WE ALL HAVE FEW BAD APPLESS.. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE YOUR PRODUCER FOR YEARS IS ONE OF THE BAD APPLE.

[citizenusa-2009]

My multiple posts came out of nowhere this time. Come on CBS, how hard can it be to fix this site? Remember, newest comments FIRST, AND NO DUPLICATIONS!!!

[citizenusa-2009]

Raise your hand if you would consider "boinking" Letterman if he was say...a taxi driver....I didn't think so...

[citizenusa-2009]

I personally cannot stand having the newest comments on the LAST PAGE! It only makes sense if you are in a country that reads "right to left". I've complained numerous times and the CBS techies just can't seem to grasp the concept. Before they "fixed" this site, it was fine.

[citizenusa-2009]

I personally cannot stand having the newest comments on the LAST PAGE! It only makes sense if you are in a country that reads "right to left". I've complained numerous times and the CBS techies just can't seem to grasp the concept. Before they "fixed" this site, it was fine.