Robert Halderman -- the guy accused of trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman -- is getting the ultimate vote of sympathy from his friends ... we're told they've chipped in to pay over a quarter of his mega legal bill.
Sources inside CBS tell TMZ friends and co-workers are raising money to help pay Halderman's $200,000 legal bill ... so far they've anted up around $50,000.
We're told some of the staff at "48 Hours" refuse to believe their colleague is guilty of extortion ... and if he is guilty, it's because he cracked over money issues surrounding his divorce.
For Halderman, friends in need are friends indeed. But the jury's out on whether Letterman has any left.
Celebrity Justice11/10/2009 2:50 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF
Letterman Suspect -- Now Accepting Donations
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Reader Comments
(Page 1 of 3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments4.
damn i was taking the tmz survey and now i'm like the 912th commentor.
better luck next time :/
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6.
KOOKY I LOVE YOU! SEND ME AN AUTOGRAPH! YOU'RE A TOURGUIDE SO YOU'LL KNOW HOW TO FIND ME ;)
KOOKY 4 PRES 2012
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8.
So according to TMZ's article here, it's okay to throw blame at Letterman and extortion is okay.
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9.
Hmmm.According to this article looks like TMZ is happy that the criminal blackmailer has good friends. Have you donated money to his defence too?
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10.
This story hasn't even scratched the surface yet. Wait until Letterman's strange sexual peccadilloes start oozing out at trial.
Letterman would have been smarter to just fork over a million -- which is lunch money to him.
Now, it's going to be a big fat Cleveland Steamer on Letterman's forehead, Lol.
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11.
Lol @ "and if he is guilty, it's because he cracked over money issues surrounding his divorce."
Because that makes extortion a reasonable thing to do. Would they have done the same if he had kidnapped someone and threatened their life in exchange for money, because he's broke due to his divorce?
Wish I had friends that were as idiotic as these people Seem to be.
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12.
What is it about L.A.? They think Polanski's a victim and Letterman's a monster. Letterman did the right thing by not giving in to the extortion because the demands would have never ceased.
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13.
Extortion, my ear. He was fighting for his girlfriend. Against a rich dude who hates women. Dave better wake up. Women are leaving his show by droves.
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14.
Okay folks, it wasn't exactly 'extortion.' Halderman was pissed at Letterman for sleeping with his girlfriend after read about it in her diary. Letterman knew he was having sex with another man's woman (no angel here). So, Halderman decided to stick it to Letterman by selling him the 'true' story, so he wouldn't go public with it and make Letterman look like an ass. But instead, Letterman meets with his lawyers and then starts yelling 'extortion' and going to the cops (to make himself seem look the victim). He then goes on his show and tries to gain national sympathy. How can it be pure extortion when Letterman knew he was sleeping with Halderman's live-in?! Letterman is culpable folks. This supposed 'extortion' didn't happen in a vacuum. And isn't Halderman a victim also? I mean, Letterman was secretly having sex with his live-in girlfriend! Halderman, having been spurned, just wanted Letterman to pay for his actions. Halderman will be found not guilty after trial. But Letterman's career is kaput. And anyone that doesn't see that is a dunce.
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