Suspect's lawyer says Letterman 'manipulates'

Suspect's lawyer says Letterman 'manipulates'
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The defense lawyer for the CBS News producer charged with trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman called the talk-show host "a master at manipulating audiences."

Gerald Shargel defended his client, Robert J. "Joe" Halderman, Monday during a round of interviews on network television morning shows.

Shargel says the charge against his client is "so obviously out of character to the point of not making any sense."

He says Letterman manipulates audiences for a living and to think that he "gave the entire story and there's nothing more to be said is simply wrong."

Halderman, a producer for the true-crime show "48 Hours," pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court Friday to attempted first-degree grand larceny.

Shargel says he's looking forward to cross-examining Letterman.

Published 10/5/09 by


AP TV News

Comments (2)

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  • Technically, dave retains some moral high ground here.
    He didn't pay for sex (which is prostitution in the state of NY) and very likely a crime. (depending on the celebrity of those involved, the amount of money, whether or not the check bounced or...
    Anonymous 10/5/09 Reply
  • Another scummy guy who's thinking with his male body part. I'm been a DL watcher forever.. not turning it on any more. I don't care if his indisgretions were prior to the wedding band... he obviously was cheating on his girlfriend. Can't men just...
    LindaL42 10/5/09 Reply