CBS And the No. 1 Reason Not to Blackmail David Letterman? You might end up sharing a jail cell with Kelly.
An Emmy-winning CBS News producer was formally indicted today for allegedly trying to extort $2 million from The Late Show host to keep quiet about Letterman's liaisons with female employees.
Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau says that 48 Hours producer Robert "Joe" Halderman has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree grand larceny.
"Our concern here is extortion, and that's what we're focusing on," Morgenthau said in a press conference.
Per the indictment, Halderman, 51, holed up outside Letterman's home in the wee hours of Sept. 9, waiting to deliver a letter and package to the funnyman.
As reounted last night by the 62-year-old host, the parcel was placed in the backseat of his car and contained evidence of his dalliances (or as Letterman described them, "terrible, terrible things").
An accompanying note pointed to Letterman's great professional success and his "beautiful and loving son" and then warned his "world was about to collapse around him" should the information go public.
Letterman immediately alerted his lawyer who in turn called the D.A.'s office. Police then set up a sting operation in which the star's attorney wore a wire and met with Halderman on three separate occasions before handing over a fake check.
Halderman is scheduled to be arraigned later today. If convicted, he could face between five and 15 years in prison.
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When he's not dealing with blackmailers, Letterman would rather be eating pizza with Madonna.