An attempt to blackmail David Letterman with allegations he slept with staffers has backfired, landing alleged perp in police custody.
During the taping of yesterday Late Show Dave joked and then waxed serious that he was the victim of a blackmail plot that the married Letterman had had sex with several of his female staffers.
Letterman told a shocked audience he had received a mysterious package from the alleged extortionist three weeks ago claiming to have hard evidence of Dave having sex with Late Show employees and threatened to reveal them to the public unless he paid $2 million.
The extortionist was then given a phony $2 million check and an arrest was made following that transaction.
The alleged blackmailer has been identified as the Emmy-Award winning producer for CBS’s crime show 48 Hours, Robert “Joe” Halderman.
Halderman pleaded not guilty on Friday to one count of attempted first-degree grand larceny, punishable by five to 15 years upon conviction. His bail was set at $200,000 bond.
