Letterman book threat

2009-10-16 18:38

New York - A television producer charged with attempting to extort $2m from US talk show host David Letterman threatened to write a book about the TV star's affairs with employees, court documents showed on Thursday.

A Connecticut judge ordered the release of law enforcement affidavits and a list of evidence taken from the home of Joe Halderman, a producer for CBS news show 48 Hours who is charged with attempted grand larceny in the case.

According to one affidavit, Halderman told Letterman's lawyers in a meeting at a Manhattan hotel that he planned to "write the book and publicise the information" if he was not paid. He was arrested later after depositing a phony $2m cheque into his bank account.

Photographs, a letter, video and audio tapes, a computer hard drive and other items were removed from Halderman's Norwalk, Connecticut home, according to court documents.

Earlier this month, Letterman, 62, admitted on his Late Show with David Letterman he had sex with women who worked on the programme. He told his audience he went to officials after receiving a package threatening to reveal details.

Prosecutors said Halderman appeared at Letterman's Manhattan home on September 9 and left a package in the comedian's car with a one-page screenplay outlining the affairs and a letter demanding "a large chunk of money".

Halderman has pleaded innocent to the charges.

- Reuters