Former CBS producer Robert Halderman plead guilty today to attempted grand larceny in the extortion case involving David Letterman. He will serve six months in jail, followed by four and a half years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service.
The blackmail came to light in October of 2009 when Letterman revealed the fact that he was being extorted and had affairs with several female staffers.
Halderman allegedly contacted Letterman and demanded $2 million dollars after reading his girlfriend’s diary and finding information about her secret booty calls with the Late Show host, who was her boss at the time.
David Letterman released the following statement today:
“I would like to thank the District Attorney of Manhattan, Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., the former District Attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, the Special Prosecutions Bureau in the D.A.’s Office, and the New York City Police Department. When they became involved with this case, I had complete faith that a just and appropriate result was inevitable. On behalf of my family, I am extremely grateful for their tireless efforts.”
I think David Letterman did the right thing by just coming out and admitting everything instead of letting some scumbag blackmail and humiliate him. Hopefully while Halderman is in jail, he will be taught the error of his ways. By several large men. Who think he has a pretty mouth.
source: Robert Halderman Pleads Guilty in Letterman Plot [Popeater]
A blackmailer is in custody after trying to shake down David Letterman – threatening to expose the late night funnyman’s affairs with several female staffers.
The “Late Show” host, who married his girlfriend of 20 years in March, revealed the stunning plot at the taping of Thursday night’s show – and admitted he had indeed slept with several women who work for him.
A Manhattan grand jury is now investigating.
“This morning, I did something I’ve never done in my life,” Letterman, 62, told his stunned audience.
“I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury.”
The “Late Show” host said he had received a package three weeks ago from an individual who threatened to expose his dalliances unless he coughed up a cool $2 million.
“I knew he was being blackmailed and that someone was arrested today,” Letterman’s mother and semi-regular guest, Dorothy Mengering, told The Daily News Thursday night from her home in Indiana.
“So far that’s all I know,” said Mengering, who said she heard the news from Letterman’s wife of seven months, Regina Lasko, with whom he has a son, 5-year-old Harry.
“I have not talked to him. I heard it from Regina. I’m looking forward to seeing the show to see what he has to say. I really just found out today.”
Letterman was asked at Thursday’s Grand Jury hearing if he had ever slept with a member of his staff.
“My response to that is, yes I have,” he said.
“Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would,” said Letterman.
“I feel like I need to protect these people. I need to certainly protect my family.”
Letterman married Lasko, his longtime girlfriend, in March – and announced it on air.
“They say, ‘Well, why did it take you so long to get married?’ and, of course, the answer honestly is we wanted to make sure we had the prenup just right,” he joked.
“I had avoided getting married pretty good for, like, 23 years,” he said. “I secretly felt that men who were married admired me – like I was the last of the real gunslingers.”
Letterman was married once before – to his college sweetheart, Michele Cook, from 1969-1977. He dated comedienne Merrill Markoe after that, and started dating Lasko in 1986.
source: David Letterman reveals extortion plot; Blackmailer wanted $2M for ‘Late Show’ host’s sex secret [NY Daily News]
Grieving John Travolta is the center of an alleged extortion plot that is said to involve a photograph of his son Jett Travolta that was taken as he was dying.
Tragedy: Actor John Travolta with his late son Jett, who had a history of seizures and collapsed at the family's holiday home in Grand Bahama on January 2
He was contacted by a pair of alleged extortionists who demanded ‘millions of dollars‘ or threatened to sell the photo to the highest bidder.
Travolta, 54, immediately contacted his lawyers to deal with the matter and they flew to the Bahamas over the weekend to meet with the alleged extortionists.
Two men, including a local politician from Grand Bahama where Jett died, are being quizzed over the allegations, according to local reports. The other man involved is thought to be connected with the ambulance service.
A police source said: ‘The investigation is at an early stage. Mr Travolta is co-operating fully.’
Close and loving: John with his daughter Ella, son Jett and wife Kelly
Jett Travolta,16, who had a history of seizures, collapsed at the family’s holiday home in Grand Bahama on January 2nd after returning from a family boating trip. His father battled to keep him alive with heart massage before paramedics arrived to take over.
The extortion plot was revealed as Travolta remained in seclusion at his sprawling home on the Jumbolair estate in central Florida. Friends say he is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his son.
He has yet to be seen in public, and has rarely ventured from his home into the nearby town of Ocala where he is well known and despite his Hollywood status left alone
The extortion plot is believed to revolve around a photograph of Jett as he lay in the back of an ambulance. It is understood to have been taken on a mobile phone.
The alleged blackmailers are thought to have made contact with Travola and his Florida based lawyers Michael Ossi and Howard Butler.
