All posts containing the tag: "robert halderman"
Posted Nov 11th 2009 9:20AM by TMZ Staff
David Letterman was offered $2 million for the "screenplay" of accused extortionist Robert Halderman, and all the stuff about sexual impropriety is the reason the treatment went at a premium price -- this according to a new interview by Halderman's lawyer.
Attorney Gerald Shargel was on "The Early Show" this AM, saying he was giving Dave the right of first refusal for the proposal. Shargel says it's a business transaction -- the way Hollywood works.
So the question ....
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, David Letterman
Tags: david letterman, DavidLetterman, gerald shargel, GeraldShargel, robert halderman, RobertHalderman, the early show, TheEarlyShow
Posted Nov 10th 2009 10:03AM by TMZ Staff
David Letterman's accused extortionist, Robert Halderman, is asking the judge to dismiss the extortion case against him.
In papers filed with the court, Halderman's lawyer wrote, "The sensationalism surrounding this indictment, fueled by the celebrity of the purported victim and the deference paid to that celebrity by the District Attorney's Office, has swallowed the only pertinent issue ...."
The issue: Whether the grand jury had sufficient facts to support the extortion case.
The lawyer, Gerald Shargel, also states Halderman "discovered evidence that Letterman had created and fostered an environment of workplace sexual misconduct that under any definition, amounted to actionable sexual harassment."
The lawyer says this was not extortion, calling it "a pure commercial transaction." The lawyer says Halderman was merely trying to sell the exclusive screenplay rights to Letterman.
The lawyer says Halderman even insisted on getting a written agreement -- something extortionists generally don't do.
In addition to the motion for dismissal, Halderman's lawyer is asking to inspect the grand jury minutes. And, he wants the items seized from Halderman to be suppressed as evidence.
And there's this ... Attorney Shargel claims the relationship between Letterman and Stephanie Birkitt continued through at least last summer.
Filed under: Exclusives, David Letterman
Tags: case, court, david letterman, DavidLetterman, dismiss, extortion, grand larceny, GrandLarceny, late show, LateShow, robert halderman, RobertHalderman
Posted Nov 10th 2009 12:50AM by TMZ Staff
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.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives, David Letterman
Tags: 48 hours, 48Hours, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, joe halderman, JoeHalderman, robert halderman, RobertHalderman
Posted Oct 5th 2009 9:00AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained photos of Holly Hester -- the woman who acknowledged she had a relationship with David Letterman in the early 1990s -- back when she worked as an intern for Dave.
The pics show Hester with segment producer Frank Gannon (top) and writer Joe Furey (bottom) and were taken in Dave's outer offices back when he was at NBC.
Hester said her relationship with Letterman lasted a year and that she was "madly in love with him."
Filed under: Exclusives, David Letterman
Tags: affair, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, holly hester, HollyHester, late show, LateShow, relationship, robert halderman, RobertHalderman
Posted Oct 3rd 2009 7:00AM by TMZ Staff
Jay Leno just couldn't pass up an opportunity to crack on his old late night rival David Letterman -- and dare we say ... it was actually kinda funny.
Leno confessed that he too was once the victim of an extortion plot, saying, "How do think NBC got me to do a 10 o'clock show?"
Filed under: TV, David Letterman
Tags: 48 hours, 48Hours, blackmail, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, jay leno, JayLeno, joe halderman, JoeHalderman, robert halderman, RobertHalderman
Posted Oct 2nd 2009 3:13PM by TMZ Staff
Robert Halderman -- the man accused of trying to extort David Letterman -- has just pled not guilty to the felony charge of attempted grand larceny in the first degree.
Halderman was wearing blue jeans, a striped button-up shirt and a blazer. He is in handcuffs.
The DA is asking for his bail to be set at $500,000. They say Halderman's actions were ones of "desperation" and they are "alarming and dangerous."
His defense, on the other hand, wants bail to be set at $100k. They claim he is not a flight risk.
UPDATE: His bail was set at $200,000 bond.
Filed under: David Letterman
Tags: arraignment, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, joe halderman, JoeHalderman, robert halderman, RobertHalderman
Posted Oct 2nd 2009 12:03PM by TMZ Staff
The Manhattan DA's press conference over David Letterman's extortion case just ended -- and revealed Robert "Joe" Halderman was busted after he tried depositing his $2 million check. Which raises the question ... who takes a check?
Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said three meetings were held between Halderman and Letterman's lawyers at the Essex House -- Dave was not present -- and at the 3rd meeting, the check was turned over to Halderman.
Morgenthau says Letterman's lawyer wore a wire -- and the last two meetings were audio taped.
Halderman deposited the check -- which was designed to bounce -- the next morning, yesterday, and was then arrested.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, David Letterman
Tags: affair, dave letterman, DaveLetterman, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, robert halderman, robert morgenthau, RobertHalderman, RobertMorgenthau, the late show with david letterman, TheLateShowWithDavidLetterman
Posted Oct 2nd 2009 10:08AM by TMZ Staff
Robert "Joe" Halderman -- the man accused of trying to extort David Letterman out of $2 million -- had to pay a pretty penny in child support, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
According to the divorce settlement agreement he signed with ex-wife Patty Montet in 2004, the "48 Hours" producer was required to pay $6,800 a month in child and spousal support for three years. That amount was reduced to $5,966.66 in May 2007.
Their house was sold and the proceeds divided during the divorce. And the credit card bills, totaling approximately $13,500, were split down the middle. Halderman agreed to pay for the unreimbursed medical bills for his two children. He was also required to maintain life insurance.
The agreement also provided that the court would have the power to order payment of the children's college education by either parent. One of the children is now 18 -- college age. The other child is 11.
The wife -- Patty Montet -- filed for divorce on grounds the marriage was "broken down irretrievably."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Exclusives, David Letterman
Tags: 48 hours, 48Hours, david letterman, DavidLetterman, divorce, extortion, joe halderman, JoeHalderman, producer, robert halderman, RobertHalderman, spousal support, SpousalSupport, two million dollars, TwoMillionDollars
Posted Oct 2nd 2009 9:14AM by TMZ Staff
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.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, David Letterman
Tags: affair, cbs, dave letterman, DaveLetterman, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion plot, ExtortionPlot, robert halderman, RobertHalderman, sex, sexual affair, SexualAffair, stephanie birkitt, StephanieBirkitt, the late show with david letterman, TheLateShowWithDavidLetterman
Posted Oct 2nd 2009 8:48AM by TMZ Staff
One of the women at the center of the David Letterman alleged extortion case is Stephanie Birkitt, his former assistant -- according to the search warrant obtained by FOX 5 New York. And, the warrant says, Birkitt was the suspect's girlfriend and we've learned she was living with him until recently.
According to the warrant, the suspect, "48 Hours" producer Robert "Joe" Halderman, sent Letterman a package which allegedly included treatments for a screenplay with supporting materials.
The warrant goes on to say the "supporting materials" included copies of parts of a diary and correspondence belonging to Birkitt.
Halderman allegedly sent more documents, including letters, emails and photos.
On September 23, Halderman allegedly told undercover cops he wouldn't make the diary public if Letterman anted up $2 million.
Letterman acknowledged on his show last night he had sexual relations with female members of his staff.
Birkett has been a regular on Letterman's show (see video).
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, David Letterman
Tags: 48 hours, 48Hours, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, joe halderman, JoeHalderman, late show, LateShow, robert halderman, RobertHalderman, stephanie birkitt, StephanieBirkitt, warrant
Posted Oct 1st 2009 9:33PM by TMZ Staff
SECOND UPDATE: 11:58 PM ET TMZ has learned the identity of the alleged extortionist who was arrested today for attempted grand larceny in the first degree. He is 51-year-old Robert Halderman who lives in Norwalk, CT. He is an employee of "48 Hours" and has been suspended pending results of the investigation.
David Letterman says someone has demanded $2 million from him in return for not blowing the lid on Letterman's sexual liaisons in his office.
Letterman said on his show tonight he received a package 3 weeks ago from someone claiming to have info about sexual escapades between Letterman and some female employees on his staff.
According to Nikki Finke the individual said Letterman would have to pay $2 million to keep the info secret.
Letterman went on to say he contacted the Special Prosecution Bureau of the Manhattan D.A.'s office. He said the D.A. investigated and cut a phony $2 million check to the alleged extortionist who was arrested today.
Letterman says he testified today before the grand jury. In his testimony, he says he acknowledged sexual relationships with members of his staff.
Letterman married his girlfriend of 23 years last March.
Click here... it's not over yet
Tags: david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, robert halderman, RobertHalderman
