Robert Halderman's Attorney Says Letterman Extortion Accusation is 'Preposterous'

Oct. 5, 2009 — -- An attorney for the CBS News producer accused of attempting to extort money from David Letterman said today that the late-night comedian's talk-show confession did not tell the whole story.

"Joe Halderman was at CBS for 27 years. Here's a guy who was an investigative journalist for so many years," Gerald Shargel told "Good Morning America" today. "To say he was trapped in an extortion plot was kind of preposterous."

Shargel, the attorney for Robert "Joe" Halderman, declined to say what else he might reveal as the case continues.

"I'm not going to put it before the public," he said. "I'll put it before the jury."

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Halderman, 51, a longtime, Emmy-award winning producer for CBS News' "48 Hours," pleaded not guilty after he was charged last week with trying to blackmail Letterman for $2 million, saying he had evidence of the talk show host's sexual affairs with staff members.

"I'm here to say, 'Not so fast," Shargel said. "I look forward to cross-examining David Letterman, because I don't think the full story is before the public. There's much more to this story.

Freed on $200,000 bail, Halderman faces up to 15 years in state prison if convicted.

Judge Michael Melkonian also issued a temporary order of protection to keep Halderman away from Letterman.

In a press conference last week before Halderman's arraignment, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said Halderman demanded to be paid $2 million in an initial meeting with Letterman Sept. 9, when Halderman allegedly waited outside Letterman's New York City apartment at 6 a.m. "with a letter and other materials."

Three subsequent meetings between Letterman and Halderman were recorded by Letterman's attorney, Morgenthau said.

Shargel was adamant that his client did not have the criminal intent required for a conviction.