David Letterman Discusses End to Extortionist Drama During “Late Show” Taping

48 Hours David Letterman Grand Larceny Larceny Robert Halderman Robert Halderman plea Stephanie Birkitt

6:15 pm, March 9th, 2010

BREAKING!

UPDATE – 6:15 PM -

David Letterman made the following remarks during tonight’s “Late Show” taping:

“I need to talk to you about a segment of my life here that began six months ago.  I found myself in some legal trouble, and pretty quickly, it was turned over to the District Attorney’s office here in Manhattan.  Now, I’d never been involved in anything like this in my life, and I was concerned and full of anxiety and nervous and worried.  And the people in the District Attorney’s office said, ‘This will be handled professionally, this will be handled skillfully, and appropriately.’”

“Well, the matter was resolved today, and they were exactly right – it was handled professionally, skillfully and appropriately.  And by way of demonstrating my thanks to the men and women who worked on this, I would like to mention their names now:  District Attorney of Manhattan Cyrus Vance, the former District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau, the Special Prosecutions Bureau in the D.A.’s office and, of course, the New York City Police Department.”

“Thank you all for your help.”

UPDATE – 2:45PM -

Gossip Cop received the following statement from David Letterman regarding today’s guilty plea from his extortionist:

“I would like to thank the District Attorney of Manhattan, Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., the former District Attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, the Special Prosecutions Bureau in the D.A.’s Office, and the New York City Police Department.   When they became involved with this case, I had complete faith that a just and appropriate result was inevitable.  On behalf of my family, I am extremely grateful for their tireless efforts.”

ORIGINAL POST – 12:37 PM –

Robert Halderman, the man accused of attempting to extort David Letterman, will plead guilty this afternoon.

The former “48 Hours” producer had pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of attempted grand larceny in October 2009. He allegedly tried to force Letterman to pay him $2 million in return for silence about his sexual affairs, including one with show staffer Stephanie Birkitt.

Today’s plea will land Halderman a prison sentence of six months, followed by 4 and a half years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service.

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