CBS worker arrested in David Letterman blackmail plot

CBS worker arrested in David Letterman blackmail plot

 

David Letterman stunned his viewers Thursday when he announced on his show in an extraordinary monologue that someone was trying to blackmail him over his sexual relationships with female staffer. Letterman said that “this whole thing has been quite scary.” But he mixed in jokes while outlining what had happened to him, seeming to confuse a laughing audience at Thursday’s taping about whether the story was true.

A new reports suggest the extorter was an employee at fellow CBS show 48 Hours. CBS reports that the 48 Hours employee suspect is Robert J. Halderman, who was arrested on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree. The extorter allegedly threatened to make the affairs public if he did not pay $2 million. A CNN legal analyst said Letterman had affairs with at least two female employees. The late-night comedian contacted authorities, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office set up a sting operation that resulted in an arrest Thursday, after the person was caught trying to cash a fake $2 million check. Letterman said he testified before a grand jury on Thursday morning, “something I’ve never done in my life.” Of the affairs, he said, “Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would… I feel like I need to protect these people. I need to certainly protect my family.”