Letterman: Minutes producer handled correctly

NEW YORK - From the beginning, has assured David Letterman the story of an attempted shakedown of 2 million U.S. dollars on his sex life has been said to himself. That is, not the comedy department, the news of the affair, which led him last fall to do business with women recognize broke on his staff. After the former TV producer Robert "Joe" Halderman guilty Tuesday to attempted extortion, debt, and jealousy, Letterman took the opportunity again. The symbol of lawyers was late into the night at the courthouse with a statement from him, and he weighed in his show with praise for the prosecutors and the police. "It was handled professionally, skillfully and appropriately," he said. Letterman May hope the deal said the same about his own handling of the case, the first a blow to the image of the nice guy, if perhaps a little cranky. Halderman, 52, pleaded guilty of attempted robbery recognize, that he threatened to destroy the reputation by broadcasting his Letterman Tombeur job - with information from the authorities have said Halderman's diary excerpts from an ex-girlfriend who had a relationship with Letterman . The average transaction Spares Halderman had a potential 15 years in prison, he was convicted. Rather it is to get a sentence of six months in jail and 1,000 hours of community work. "I tried to $ 2 million from David Letterman to blackmail, threatening to disclose personal and private information about him, whether true or false, he said in court Friday, apologizing to his ex-girlfriend and Letterman." I feel great remorse for what I did, "he said. The average savings Letterman also the prospect of a trial that could put his private life exposed, but he has defused much of the potential bomb Halderman last fall revealed his affair. Halderman was a producer of "48 CBS 'Hours Mystery" when the case began; Letterman "Late Show" on CBS. Halderman said CBS News is no longer an employee, but did say whether he resigned or was dismissed. Halderman recognized Delivery of extortion in September Pilot Term Let Jahre e in the form inen overview of slightly fictional screenplay about the comedian. He admitted Tuesday the script was intended to "just a thinly veiled threat to ruin if Mr. Letterman did not pay me a lot of money." Defender Gerald Shargel said Monday that Halderman was very jealous and angry, and under financial pressure. Halderman, made over $ 214,000 in 2007, struggled with the money after the divorce, according to the court papers filed by lawyers of his ex-wife. By this plea agreement, prosecutors Halderman have to give all copies of diary entries, photos, notes, script or other materials on Letterman and he would never agree to reveal the contents. Outside court Halderman repeated his apology, has denied everything and said nothing more. He remained free on bail 4 to his conviction for the May planned. His plea came more than four months after Letterman said this in a monologue in his 1st October show, viewers and critics impressive impressive, which described his speech, folk and Frank again, a masterful gesture, to take control of history. He describes his affairs office as a "scary", but said he thought he needed to these women and their families. Letterman girlfriend Regina Lasko married last year. They started out in 1986 and is 6 years old son. The fans have found with him more than the revelations of his company at work. His show, on average, 4.14 million viewers, up 6 percent more than a year. But now, with competitors from Conan O'Brien "The Tonight Show, Letterman, NBC is back with Jay Leno, who is returning to the" Tonight "host confronted last week after nine months of absence. In recent years, consistently beating Letterman to Leno the ratings. Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., Letterman noted that the authorities had come to know the event was to expose his personal life. "Mr. Letterman is a public figure, but like all new New Yorker, he has to a certain degree of privacy in his public life with the title, "said Vance, of the business by his predecessor, Robert Morgenthau took in January.