Letterman plot suspect asks court to drop case

[DearAbby]

NEW YORK - A TV news producer accused of blackmailing David Letterman in exchange for keeping quiet about his sexual affairs was only trying to sell the late-night comic a screenplay, a defense lawyer said Tuesday.

Robert J. “Joe” Halderman’s lawyer asked a judge to toss the attempted first-degree grand larceny case, saying the producer did nothing illegal in slipping Letterman documents alluding to the “Late Show” host’s dalliances and taking a $2 million check from Letterman’s lawyer.

“There was no extortion. There was a screenplay for sale,” the lawyer, Gerald Shargel, said outside court. “There was a commercial transaction. Nothing more.”

But a lawyer for Letterman said the exchange was a shakedown, not a sale.

“It’s classic blackmail, no matter how Mr. Halderman’s lawyer wants to dress it up,” Daniel J. Horwitz said outside court.

more at link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33819206/ns/entertainment-television/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Buy the option to my screenplay . . . or else!

Prosecute away

[DearAbby]

3. Snarf * Business deal

:spray:

[lpbk2713]

2. He figured it was worth a shot.

After all, look how Dumbya was able to pull off his scam for eight long years. :eyes:

[mule_train]

4. uhm...welll, uh......NO!

trial date one month from now

[Lex]

5. I think Letterman wore a wire to the meeting with his blackmailer

so I'm sure this innocent little deal is all on tape.