Inside Info on David Letterman Case

(CBS)  Newly-released court documents detail the alleged $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman by longtime CBS News producer Robert J. "Joe" Halderman.

We now know police found out about it through a Letterman attorney, points out CBS News Correspondent Kelly Cobiella.

Halderman, accused of threatening to go public with word of affairs Letterman had with staffers of "The Late Show with David Letterman," has pleaded not guilty to attempted grand larceny charges. Letterman revealed the alleged plot, and admitted he'd had sex with employees, on the show.

The court documents say the lawyer told police Letterman, referred to only as "Client No. 1," received a package from Halderman "containing a demand letter, and a treatment for a screenplay," as well as portions of a diary, phone records and pictures belonging to someone whose name is blacked out.

Halderman allegedly wrote he had "a lot more" and that it would ruin Letterman's reputation.

There are reports one of the women involved is Letterman's former assistant, Stephanie Birkitt, who had been dating and living with Halderman.

In a search warrant signed Oct. 1, authorities say they want to look for computer hard drives, journals, pictures and screenplays to back up the extortion allegations. That same day, police searched the Norwalk, Conn. home Halderman and Birkitt had shared. Among the items removed: "copies of a check" and bank records, a computer and disc drives, and video and audio tapes.

The documents also spell out three meetings between Halderman and letterman's attorney, two of which police say they recorded.

At one point, Halderman allegedly says he's writing a book and threatens to reveal details of Letterman's personal life unless he's paid the $2 million.

Police say Halderman got a bogus check for that amount and deposited it, after which he was arrested.

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[oy_vey]

"Letterman revealed the alleged plot, and admitted he'd had sex with employees, on the show."

Uh, CBS, you might want to think about moving "on the show" to immediately after "alleged plot." (No, the comma doesn't fix it.) Half of America is now searching YouTube for those lost episodes...

"The court documents say the lawyer told police Letterman, referred to only as 'Client No. 1'"

Client No. 1! At least Dave gets more respect than Eliot Spitzer...

"The documents also spell out three meetings between Halderman and letterman's attorney"

Actually, "Letterman" is spelled with a capital L. Maybe check the spelling of his name in the company directory?

In other news, H1N1 virus is apparently dangerous to young people - and also - Drew Barrymore.

[oy_vey]

Jokes aside - I hope it all works out for Letterman. He's made people laugh for thirty years, which is a more positive contribution to the world than we cynical 21st century denizens would like to admit. Yep, he did do something wrong... but he's a guy loved by millions of people whose "crime" was loving too many of them back. Let's keep it in perspective. (And remember, if people didn't go nuts over this stuff, extortionists would have no incentive to extort.) My virtual foam "#1" hand still waves for Dave - even though I hope the CBS news website will continue to post funny grammatical errors to keep me entertained while his show's on vacation.

[Jennifer3737]

"Letterman revealed the alleged plot, and admitted he'd had sex with employees, on the show." Try it this way: Letterman revealed (on the show) the alleged plot and that he'd had sex with employees. The easier way to test correctness, however, is by taking out the words between the two commas to see if the rest of the sentence is accurate: Letterman revealed the alleged plot on the show. But either way, it's clear that the sentence reads that Letterman revealed AND he admitted...on the show.

[duude2u]

What's funny is if Halderman actually wrote that he had " a lot more that would ruin Letterman's reputation". Letterman? A reputation? For what? I suppose everyone has a reputation for something. But Letterman's reputation is less than admirable. No wonder he confessed it to his wife. Nothing lost. Halderman misunderstood Letterman's character.

[lyndar2]

I have been a fan of Letterman for years but now not so much. I don't even really care what's he's done because men w/big egos go down this same path all the time. It's how he has ridiculed others for decades. I mean, really, Dave, wasn't there other material besides cheating husbands? It has certainly backfired on you. You were willing to risk your son? I hope your wife (who I bet has been thru your cheating before) takes your son and makes a better life for herself. My thoughts go with them.

[eyemdope]

Please. Your self righteous misinformed indignation is grating. Get the facts straight. Letterman had these affairs BEFORE he got married. His wife is obviously hurt thinking she was the only 'one' Letterman had on his show prior to their marriage. Despite this aura of exclusivity likely being perpetuated by Dave so as to not hurt the feelings of his love and future wife and fuel the romance it's not like he was already married and actively cheating on his wife. What's this "risk your son" nonsense? Get your facts straight. If anything, she was naive to believe that if he had an affair with her as an employee 'on his show' that he hadn't dabbled likewise in the past. When someone's life is their work, like Dave's is, how realistic is it ban company owners from dating employees?

[InMyHumbleOpinion]

CBS should SWITCH, Craig and Letterman's timeslot until Dave's contract runs out.

[misha_m]

"Letterman revealed the alleged plot, and admitted he'd had sex with employees, on the show."

He had sex with employees, on the show? I watch every night - how did I miss this action? I'll have to watch more carefully. It's better than a peep show.

[kllay]

What is NEW about this information? We already knew everything that is in this report. Can you guys please leave Dave alone. What is wrong with everyone. Why is US society so puritan. In Europe, if a person is performing his job well...even if he is the president of the country.....his sex life does not matter!!!

[bradbooks]

"Letterman revealed the alleged plot, and admitted he'd had sex with employees, on the show." Sex right on the show? Yet another reason to watch Dave instead of those other--more boring--guys.

[InMyHumbleOpinion]

I think Joe's behavior was restrained. He catches his girl friend of 5 years, making out with her boss, and he goes home and writes a letter? he writes a letter! a letter!

What would we like him to do? stand there and point to his watch and say, "hey your time's up!"

Letterman needs to drop the charges to save face. He is the one that looks like the criminal.

Just for ***** & giggles: In Italy :) a husband in this situation, can actually shoot the guy and just get a year in jail.

Where is Tony Soprano when you need him? (-joke)

[briannorwood]

Very interesting about the Italy stuff. But just one point. This jackass Halderman wasn't married to Ms. Birkett.

Oh well.

[InMyHumbleOpinion]

The Kennedys prevented a tell-all book from being published, did they claim extortion?

[eyemdope]

The Bush's did too prior to the 2000 election. If you have a point, please state it. How can circumstances of these events be more different?

[aubfmet]

This will be the case where nobody was innocent. Focusing attention on Halderman omits the point that Letterman is guiilty of false impersonation. He presented himself as an honest man.

[Questionews]

He's a celebrity.
As far as celebrities are concerned morals are for suckers.

[eyemdope]

Since when did he present himself as an honest man? He pokes just as much fun at himself as he does others on his show? Please provide some evidence to your claims. He's a COMEDIAN, and COMEDIANS have a job naturally to poke fun at everyone. Honest man?!?!? Considering the nature of his sin, having an affair with an employee prior to his marriage, how is it even a sin at all for lack of a less loaded word?