Get the Gory Details of Letterman Search Warrants

Search warrants related to police raids on the home of David Letterman's alleged extortionist unsealed

By Josh Grossberg, Whitney English Oct 15, 2009 5:41 PMTags
David Letterman, Robert HaldermanJohn Paul Filo/CBS; AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann

David Letterman is no stranger to our living rooms. Now we're getting a peek into his.

Over the objection of prosecutors, a Connecticut judge today agreed to unseal search warrants related to police raids on the home of Letterman's alleged blackmailer.

And boy did they apparently fine some juicy stuff.

According to the document signed by NYPD Dets. Terrence Blake and Anthony Pasquarielao and obtained by E! News, investigators targeted "any and all computers and loose media, floppy disk, hard disc, cassette tapes, magnetic tapes, removable media, tape and/or data cartridges" while searching the residence of Robert "Joe" Halderman.

Looks like they had their own Top 10 list.

Per the affidavit, the Emmy-winning CBS News producer sent the funnyman's attorney a package that included a demand letter, the outline for a screenplay exposing Letterman's in-office affair, as well as "personal correspondence, telephone records and photos." Halderman also threw in copies of a diary kept by Stephanie Birkitt, his ex-girlfriend and the Late Show employee at the center of the scandal.

"In the letter, Halderman states he needs to make a large chunk of money by selling...client #1 a screenplay treatment," reads the warrant. "The documents then describes that client #1's world is about to collapse as information about his private life is disclosed leading to a ruined reputation and severe damage to his career and family life."

Pasquariello states in the documents that Letterman's lawyer, James Jackoway, told him Halderman "demanded $2 million to ensure the information in the screenplay treatment and supporting materials would not be made public."

The threats, per the court docs, made Letterman feel "threatened, alarmed and concerned" for himself and his family.

Halderman, a producer for 48 Hours Mystery, has pleaded innocent to one count of attempted first degree grand larceny, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Bail has been set at $200,000.

Last week, Norwalk prosecutor Suzanne Vieux filed a motion objecting to the warrants' release, arguing that disclosing such information could not only put witnesses named in the documents under the intense media microscope but also harm the government's case against Halderman.

However Norwalk Superior Court Judge Bruce Hudok disagreed and authorized the release, provided the names of witnesses were redacted to avoid them becoming "victims of association."

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Here's the latest on what's happening with the alleged extortionist.