TMZ has obtained audio of the moment when Bahamian lawmaker Picewell Forbes blew the entire John Travolta extortion case -- screaming out at a political convention last night that "Pleasant Bridgewater is a free woman!!!"
Big mistake: Because when the judge found out the announcement had been made before the jury had come to a decision in the Travolta case -- the judge declared it a mistrial, believing someone in the jury could have been "communicating" with the lawmaker.
FYI -- Pleasant Bridgewater is a former Senator from the Progressive Liberal Party -- and the announcement was made at a PLP convention.
The PLP released the following apology for their monumental blunder:
"Last evening in the course of an address at our National General Convention, it was announced that former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater had been acquitted. The announcement was incorrect. We give an unqualified apology. This was not intended to interfere with the administration of justice."
Joe Halderman, the man who allegedly tried extorting David Letterman, says he's not running or hiding from anyone.
FOX 5 WNYW got video of Halderman at his home in Norwalk, CT yesterday. Halderman said he couldn't talk but added, "I'm not trying to hide or run, but there's nothing I can say."
Walking out to more applause than usual, David Letterman opened tonight's "Late Show" by taking three shots at himself in less than a minute!
Among the zingers, Dave told the audience, "I got into the car this morning and the navigation lady wasn't speaking to me."
Things take a more serious turn later in the monologue -- where Dave reportedly apologizes to his wife for his affairs. CBS is keeping that part under wraps until tonight.
The man accused of hatching a $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman is out of jail for now -- but Robert "Joe" Halderman better not get too close to the talk show host while he is.
Halderman just posted bail -- which was set at $200,000. Judge Michael Melkonian also issued a temporary order of protection, which requires Halderman to stay away from Letterman.
Halderman pled not guilty to attempted grand larceny in the first degree -- a felony.
This is the man arrested for the $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman.
Robert "Joe" Halderman -- a well-respected producer for "48 Hours" -- was busted outside CBS headquarters in NYC for attempted grand larceny in the first degree.
Until recently Halderman was living with Stephanie Birkitt, Letterman's former assistant. We're told Letterman was having a relationship with Birkitt but ended it before his son was born in 2003.
We've learned Robert "Joe" Halderman was arrested yesterday outside the CBS headquarters in NYC, and it was news to the people inside who make the news.
Our sources say the Manhattan D.A. played the investigation close to the vest and people inside the building were baffled when the highly-respected producer was cuffed and hauled off in the David Letterman extortion case.
As we already reported Halderman had a relationship with Stephanie Birkitt and lived with her. But we're told they had broken up "recently." We do not know who ended the relationship, but Halderman allegedly was in possession of Birkitt's diary, correspondence and photos -- which he says incriminated Letterman.
People connected with the network tell us Letterman did have a relationship with Birkitt, but the word is that it ended before Letterman had his baby in 2003.
Secret police videos have captured the alleged extortionists in the John Travolta case in deep conflict ... with one defendant accusing the other of trying to settle way too cheap -- this according to law enforcement sources.
As we first reported yesterday, authorities have at least two videos of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and attorney Pleasant Bridgewater demanding millions of dollars from John Travolta's lawyers, in return for not making a document public.
Our sources say Bridgewater is caught on tape demanding many millions of dollars, but another video shows Lightbourne outraged that Bridgewater demanded what he considered such a paltry sum. His demand was exponentially higher than hers, law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
We're told the videos show them haggling over money -- and although it's been reported the pair allegedly demanded $25 million, we're told they finally agreed to $15 mil.
We're also told lawyers for Bridgewater and Lightbourne will make a motion today to suppress the videos, on grounds they were illegally recorded.
And there's a sticky problem -- we're told one of the key Bahamian cops in the video sting was seriously injured "under suspicious circumstances" and is unable to testify.
Travolta has not finished testifying. We're told he has left the Bahamas and will return next week to complete his testimony.
TMZ has confirmed John Travolta will testify next week at the extortion trial involving the death of his son, Jett.
Travolta will travel to the Bahamas to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former politician Pleasant Bridgewater allegedly demanded $25 million in return for not going public with a document which authorized paramedics to take 16-year-old Jett to a hospital via ambulance after suffering a massive seizure.
We're told Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are outraged by the alleged extortion plot which authorities say was concocted shortly after Jett's death.
More Travolta
This is the man arrested for the $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman.
We've learned Robert "Joe" Halderman was arrested yesterday outside the CBS headquarters in NYC, and it was news to the people inside who make the news.
Secret police videos have captured the alleged extortionists in the John Travolta case in deep conflict ... with one defendant accusing the other of trying to settle way too cheap -- this according to law enforcement sources.
TMZ has confirmed John Travolta will testify next week at the extortion trial involving the death of his son, Jett.
