so who is this man, robert joe halderman. his uncle said he's not the kind of man who would blackmail people. susan candiotti found out more. >> reporter: robert joe halderman is making headlines in a tawdry blackmail case. he tried to shake down talk show host david letterman for $2 million to keep letterman's sex life quiet. letterman beat him to it, surprising his audience by announcing he had affairs with co-workers and told the grand jury about it. >> the creepy stuff was that i have had sex with women who work for me on this show. >> reporter: his production company says the affairs happened before letterman's marriage to his long-time companion last spring. halderman gave letterman a rude awakening about 3:00 a.m. six weeks ago leaving a pack annual outside of his home. it was a screen play idea. >> halderman said he needed to make a large chunk of money, unquote, by selling letterman a so-called screen-play treatment, unquote. the one-page screen play treatment attached to the letter referred to letterman's great succe

robert joe halderman had a court hearing in new york yesterday. he's facing larceny charge that is could land him in jail for up to 15 years. after the hearing, halderman was released on $200,000 bail. he reportedly demanded $2 million to keep quiet about letterman's affairs with co-workers. letterman admitted on thursday to having sex with female staffers. his production company says he didn't violate their harassment policy. >>> so who is this man, robert joe halderman? his uncle says he's not the kind of man that would blackmail someone. susan candiotti dug deeper and found out more about him. >> reporter: veteran cbs news producer robert joe halderman is making headlines in a tawdry blackmail case. prosecutors say he tried to shake down david letterman for $2 million to keep letterman's sex life quiet. letterman beat him to it. surprising his audience by announcing he had affairs with co-workers and told the grand jury about it. >> the creepy stuff was that i have had sex with women who work for me on this show. >> reporter: his production comp

cbs news producer robert joe halderman pleaded not guilty and friday and is now out on bail. peter alexander is here with the latest. they're calling his desperate, capable of doing anything. >> they say they believe he was in serious debt which may play into why this all came to happen, they suspect. good morning. new information we should help you und, may help explain the alleged ex-tors plot against david letterman by this cbs news producer. the "new york times" reports an executive from letterman's production company told them that stephanie burkett, one of letterman's assistants a woman who at one time lived with the suspect, did have a past sexual relationship with david letterman. >> reporter: this morning 51-year-old robert joe halderman is free on bail, but today new details are emerging about the bizarre tale of sex, crime and money. this first unfolded when letterman stunned his "late night" audience with a confession thursday. >> that i have had sex with women who work for me on this show. >> reporter: letterman told viewers he found a package and letter latched

jeff, any indication as to whether or not david letterman is going to address robert joe halderman's attorney and he also said, look, an extortionist doesn't take a $2 million personal check, usual think is cash it is money that's wired. so he is clearly beginning to build a defense, he also came out and said at a it, that my client is innocent the "today" show this morning but said they don't usually take checks, extortionists, but he wouldn't go into any more of the defense after that. >> what is the status of joe halderman at cbs news? is he suspended, an internal investigation going on? >> cbs is, of course, looking into this matter. what i find fascinating, cbs executives themselves didn't find out about this until, what, just a few hours before the taping and that goes up to the top of the cbs food chain, les moonves, letterman was keeping this from everybody, clearly, that was part of his intent, to keep this private, with the police also, as they were doing that sting -- that investigation and the sting operation. joe halderman was arrested outside of cbs headquarters and yet

prosecutors are calling robert joe halderman desperate and capable of doing anything. man who has been suspended from his job at "48 hours" is free on bail but facing 15 years in prison and his lawyer insists he is innocent. >> this story is far more complicated than what you heard this afternoon. this story is far more complicated than that two minute statement by the assistant district attorney. again, it's not time to discuss it. there is another side to the story. i'm not telling it today. there is another side to the story. it's not -- it's not the open and shut case you heard about. >> well, the plot forced the late night comedian to confess to having sex with woman who worked for him. "the new york time "the new york times" reports one is stephanie burkett who at one time lived with the suspect. perhaps that is connection. tom o'neill the senior editor for in touch weekly and joins me live. let's talk about the whole reaction to all this. late night comedians making fun of all this. >> it is. he handled it so well himself, david with his -- >> i personally did. b

. >> alex, we can tell you that robert joe halderman, a prominent producer for cbs's "48 hours" programred a not guilty plea and then put up the money necessary to get out of jail. he left the courthouse without talking to reporters and he left his attorney to do the talking for him. >> he has an impeccable reputation. he was a producer at cbs for 27 years. he's 52 years old. he was a responsible member of the community. his roots are deeply placed in the tri-state area. he's a responsible person. >> his client halderman is charged with a messy and bizarre effort to blackmail doifds letterman for $2 million. the case forced him to issue an awkward confession that he had sex with women on his staff. reports say one is stephanie burkett who also appeared on the air and now it's reported that the connection here between letterman and halderman is burkett, that she was until last month recently living with halderman. the paper says according to executives with letterman's company, worldwide pants that letterman's relationship with burkett ended when he was married in march to a woman whom h

. >> reporter: today 15-year-old robert joe halderman was arraigned on first degree attempted grand larceny. the only words he uttered inside court: not guilty, when asked to it err plea. >> new york will not tolerate the coercion or extortion of anyone be rich or poor, famous or anonymous. >> reporter: halderman is a 27 year cbs news veteran, an emmy award winning producer for "48 hours mystery." prosecutors say he waited outside letterman's manhattan home on september 9 and left a package in the backseat of letterman's car, details letterman described to a surprised audience. >> and there's a letter in the package and it's... it says that "i know that you do some terrible, terrible things." (laughter) "and i can prove that you do these terrible things." and sure enough, contained in the package was stuff to prove that i do terrible things (laughter). >> reporter: authorities say halderman wrote that he needed to make a large chunk of money, referencing letterman's beautiful and loving son and great professional successing, he allegedly threatened to write a screenplay revealing letterman'

. >> reporter: today, more details became public as prosecutors charged 51-year-old robert joe halderman a veteran of cbs programs including "48 hours." he wrote letterman threatening a large chunk of money. >> new york will not tolerate the coercion or extortion of anyone be the victim rich or poor, famous or anonymous. >> reporter: prosecutors say last month letterman's attorney met privately with this man, twice, secretly recording the conversation before giving a fake $2 million check that he tried to deposit yesterday. he was released on bail late this afternoon. his attorney says he's not guilty. >> there's another side to the story. it's not the open and shut case you just heard about. >> these cases happen with some frequency. the defendant knows the victim because otherwise, they wouldn't be able to extort them. >> reporter: connecticut voter registration records show halderman was living with one of letterman's long-time assistants. letterman did not name any co-workers when he addressed it last night. >> would it be embarrassing if it was made public? perhaps it would. perhaps

. >>> robert joe halderman is free on bail today. he's charged for trying to blackmail david letterman. he confessed to having sex with women who worked with him. he's on suspension from cbs. he was desperate and deep in debt. his lawyer says his client is innocent. >> this story is far more complicated than what you heard this afternoon. it's far more complicated than the two-minute statement by the district attorney. this is not the time to discuss it. there's another side to the story. i'm not telling it today. it's not the open and shut case you just heard about. >> all of letterman's relationships took place before his marriage in march. >>> a reporter who was secretly taped nude. a 48-year-old has been taken into custody and charges for taking the video of erin andrews. after learning of the arrest, she is greatly relieved. let's go to politics. they say the recession is over. it's not the reality many americans are living in. president obama reacts to news that 263,000 more american jobs van i vanished in september, bringing t

. >> reporter: robert joe halderman, also known as joel, indicted on attempted grand larceny charge. he is accused of trying to ex- toart $2 million from late night funny man david letterman. >> new york will not tolerate the coercion or extortion of anyone, be the victim rich or poor, famous or anonymous. >> new york district attorney says halderman left letterman a package in his car containing a letter and one play screen play that supposedly told things that letterman had done, things that could damage his career and personal life. >> halderman wrote that he needed to make a large chunk of money, unquote, by selling letterman a so-called, quote, screen play treatment. >> i have a little story that i would like to tell you. >> reporter: during the taping of letterman's show, he revealed the secret halderman was referring to. >> i have had sex with women who work for me on this show. >> reporter: at first it wasn't clear to the audience if they had just heard a joke. as letterman went on, it was obvious he was serious, explaining how he had testified before a grand jury. >> i was w

. >> and today more details became public as prosecutors charged 51-year-old robert joe halderman, a producer for cbs programs including 48 hours with attempted grand larceny, said he wrote letterman a letter claiming he needed a large chunk of money. >> we will not tolerate the coercion of extortion of anyone rich or poor, famous or anonymous. >> reporter: prosecutors say last month letterman's attorney met privately with halderman twice secretly recording their conversation before giving halderman a fake $2 million check, that he tried to deposit yesterday. his attorney says he's not guilty. >> there is another side to the story, it's not the open and shut case that you just heard about. >> these cases happen with some frequency, and typically when they happen, the defendant knows the victim, because otherwise they wouldn't be able to extort them or at least know something about them that puts them in close proximity. >> reporter: halderman was living with stephanie berkman, letterman did not name any of his co-workers last night. would it be embarrassing if it were made public, pe

cbs producer robert joe halderman is free today after posting $200,000 bail.f convicted he faces up to 15 years in prison for allegedly trying to blackmailerman. with more details, starting to emerge about david letterman and his affair, let's go right now, joining me here, rehema ellis and good morning to you. what's the latest on all this? >> as you point out, the 51-year-old robert halderman, he did post bail, $200,000, and then he left the courthouse without talking to reporters. he left it for his attorney to do the talking for him. >> this story is far more complicated than what you heard this afternoon. this story is far more complicated than that two-minute statement by the assistant district attorney, but, again, it's not time to discuss it. there is noir side to the story. i'm not telling it today. there is another side to the story. it's not the open and shut case that you just heard about. >> now, his client, halderman, charged with a messy and bizarre effort to blackmail david letterman for $2 million. the case forced the late night host to make a

robert joe halderman indicted on an attempted grand larceny charge. he pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail david letterman out of $2 million in a plot. >> new york will not tolerate the coercion or extortion of anyone be the victim rich or poor, famous or anonymous. >> reporter: new york's d.a. robert morgan test teau said halderman left a remember in his car -- a letter in his car. >> halderman wrote that he needed to make, quote, a large chunk of money, unquote, by selling letterman a so-called, quote, screenplay treatment. >> the is another side to the story. it's not the open and shut case that you just heard about. >> i had a little story that i would like to tell you. >> reporter: during the taping of his show thursday, letterman revealed the secrets halderman was referring to. >> i have had sex with women who work for me on this show. >> reporter: at first it wasn't clear if it was a joke. but as letterman went on, it was obvious he was serious explaining how he testified before a grand jury. >> i was worried for myself. i was worried for

as for the man accused of extorting david letterman, robert joe halderman, the veteran cbs news producer with the program "48 hours mystery" is out on bail and suspended by cbs. he was seen yesterday at his home in connecticut barking at reporters. interestingly this former investigative reporter who used to chase people around was now trying to keep the reporters off of his front lawn. also worth noting that that man is accused of first degree attempted grand larceny. if convicted is a 15-year punishment. the house where halderman lived he shared with 34-year-old stephanie birkitt. she is one of letterman's assistant and according to "the new york times" had a past relationship with letterman. it's reported today there may have been a grudge between the two men. >> peter, any idea how this may or may not affect letterman's ratings? over the weekend, you've got headlines about a secret bachelor pad at the office place allegedly used by david letterman and women. he was having a relationship with. any idea how this could impact him now he is back and live there? >> a good question. to be

robert joe halderman, a producer for the cbs news program "48 hours mystery" is out on bail after his a rapement on one count of first degree grand larceny. >> the revelation of the alleged plot forcing the late night host to admit to having sex with woman staffer, kelly wallace is here with the latest. >> reporter: more and more bizarre. good morning. friends and colleagues of joe halderman are in absolute shock over the allegations. allegations the veteran news producer who covered crime for "48 hours" stands accused of a crime that could land him up to 15 years behind barses. joe halderman looked sober and serious on in court on friday. his only comment was when he entered a not guilty plea. his attorney says the 51-year-old father will vigorously fight accusation againsts him. >> thisser to is far more complicated than what you heard this afternoon. >> reporter: according to prosecutors, at 6:00 a.m. on september 9th halderman waited outside letter mann's manhattan home and left a package on the back seat of his car. in an enclosed letter halderman said he needed to make a large c

this morning, 51-year-old robert joe halderman is free on bail. today, new details are emerging about the bizarre tale of sex, crime, and money that first unfolded when letterman stunned his late-night audience with a confession thursday. >> -- that i have had sex with women who work for me on this show. >> reporter: letterman told viewers he found a package and a letter last month in the back seat of his car. >> it says that, "i know that you do some terrible, terrible things." >> reporter: prosecutors say in that letter halderman demanded a large chunk of money, describing that letterman's world is going to collapse around him unless he paid up to keep his sexual relationships with women he worked with secret. >> new york will not tolerate the coercion or extortion of anyone, victim, rich or poor, famous or anonymous. >> reporter: last month, prosecutors say letterman's lawyer met privately with halderman three times at this manhattan hotel, twice wearing a wire to secretly record their conversations, before finally giving halderman a fake $2 mi

now out on bail, robert joe halderman who prosecutors say tried to extort $2 million from letterman, seen this weekend running errands and barking at reporters outside his connecticut home. the 51-year-old, prosecutors say, delivered a package to letterman's car last month. inside, photographs, a page from a personal diary and a letter threatening to expose letterman's sexual relationships if he didn't pay up and warning the comedian his world is about to collapse around him. >> there is another side to this story. it is not the open-and-shut case that you just heard about. >> reporter: prosecutors say halderman was in debt and court papers shows owes an ex-wife 6,800 a month in child support. his recent live-in was one of letterman's assistants and a familiar face in late-night skit pz. >> this is stephanie doing an impression of her old boyfriend dancing. >> reporter: "the new york times" reports she had a past sexual relationship with letterman. in a wake forest university alumni magazine from 2003, she called letterman the greatest boss i could ever have. letterman didn't name an

cbs news employee robert joe halderman is cued of demanding $2 million from david letterman. he allegedly threatened to expose him. he is charged with attempted grand larceny. >>> 3,000 peel may still be trapped under the rubble of this week's deadly earthquake. rescue workers are still finding survivors. wednesday's quake had a magnitude of 7.6. it kill 1,100 people. officials say that number will probably go up. those are the headlines. i'm richelle carey. >>> i've got more straws in here than the betty ford clinic. all that and more from the time warner center tonight. >>> you never know what my guest is going to say or say behind your back. mer brand of comedy is brash and takes no prisoners. in fact, i am wearing body armor right now. please help me welcome to my table. kathy griffin. >> i love that you pointed out that i talk about people behind their backs. here's why. i think it is interesting when people want me to confront these celebrities. the truth is, i was raised right. i talk about people behind their backs. so when people say that on reality shows, if you hav

robert joe halderman is accused of threatening to expose letterman's affairs with staffers. he is charged with attempted grand larceny. and 3,000 people may still be trapped under the runl. rescue workers are still finding surviv survivors. an earthquake killed 1100 people. tha number will probably go up. those are your headlines. >>> you never know what my guest is going the say or say behind your back. in fact, i am wearing body armor right now. please help me welcome to my table. i love that you pointed out that i talk about people behind their backs. i any it is interesting when people want me to confront celebrities. i was raised right. i talk about people behind their backs. so when people say that on reality shows, if you have something to say, say it to my face. i would rather wait until you leave the room. >> sometimes you get into trouble. you have said things that i have down here. suck it, jesus. >> when i won my first emmy. >> why were you interested in offending christians? >> i like to offend individuals, but i find that deiities and religious groups are the m