Letterman's Alleged Extortionist Claims He was Only Trying to Sell Screenplay

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Robert J. Halderman -- the TV news producer accused of attempting to extort over $2 million from David Letterman -- asked the courts to drop the case, claiming he was only trying to sell a screenplay to the "Late Show" host.

In a New York courtroom on Tuesday, Halderman's attorney requested that the attempted first-degree grand larceny charge against his client be dismissed, the Associated Press reports.

"There was no extortion. There was a screenplay for sale," Halderman's lawyer Gerald Shargel told the court, according to AP.

Prosecutors are claiming that on Sept. 9, Halderman demanded $2 million from Letterman in exchange to keeping quiet about some of the talk show host's prior romantic relationships.

Halderman is pleading not guilty to the charge. Keep checking "The Insider" as this story develops...

Published 11/10/09 by the Insider

Comments (5)

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  • cool:)
    NeverLetGo 11/10/09 Reply
  • I was lucky to be in the courtroom, it was fast. the prosecution didnt tell the public the whole story like the media is doing now only saying parts of it being screenplay. But if this make's it court, he will be exonerated. The asst. District Attorney's werent given the truth about the attorneys meeting several times before they started recording him. Insider g
    NYCGAL328 11/10/09 Reply
  • What a lie, the client should have come with a better way out than lie about what he did. The truth is out there too late now!!
    Anonymous 11/10/09 Reply
  • Hmmm he had a screen play huh?...so did one of the Menendez brothers before they he killed his parents.... Oh please even in hollyweird thats a lame defense!
    Anonymous 11/10/09 Reply
  • Hmmm he had a screenplay huh? so did one of the Menedez brothers ....Oh please ...even in Hollyweird thats the lamest defense!
    Anonymous 11/10/09 Reply