TV producer Robert “Joe” Halderman, who was accused of trying to shake down David Letterman for $2 million, asked a New York judge to dismiss the extortion charge.
His reason for asking to dismiss the extortion charge: he was trying to sell the late-night talk show host a screenplay about David Letterman and his dirty secrets. According to Halderman’s legal counsel there was no extortion, only a screenplay for sale.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office urged the judge to reject recent Halderman’s claim because they noted that Halderman needed cash to visit his son and would disguise the transaction by saying it was a business deal.