The David Letterman Story Will Be The Best Episode of 48 Hours Mystery Ever

by Steve Krakauer | 2:15 pm, October 5th, 2009

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You may think you know about the David Letterman extortion/sex with staffers story, but really, you only know one side of the story (or maybe no side of the story at all).

At least that’s what Robert J. Halderman’s lawyer wants you to believe, as he made a few the first of likely to be many media appearances, dropping references to Letterman’s ‘manipulation’ and giving a vague defense argument preview.

Gerald Shargel was interviewed by Geraldo Rivera on Fox News last night, and Ann Curry on the Today show today. And the tale he’s beginning to weave is sounding like one fantastic 48 Hours Mystery episode – of which Halderman was a longtime, Emmy award winning producer.

“It’s not only a question of having sexual affairs – that might be a big yawn, this is 21st century America,” said Shargel to Rivera. “But that’s not the issue; I think the larger issue at the trial, will be, who did he have the affair with?” Wait, I thought we knew who he had the affair with? And how does who he had the affair with have anything to do with extortion? Stay tuned.

“Specific criminal intent, that’s an element to a crime,” he said in the FNC interview. “And, I’m saying that Joe Halderman did not have specific criminal intent. More on that later. I’m not identifying any defenses, but as time goes on, I may be back.”

I have no idea what that means, but I’ll stay tuned after the commercial break to see what the hell he’s talking about!

Curry, who billed the interview as Halderman’s “first chance to be heard” despite the fact that he was on FNC the night before, had a bit of a contentious exchange. But the best quote from Shargel was this – about Letterman’s “side” being public already. “David Letterman didn’t give his side of the story. David Letterman gave what he wanted the public to know,” said Shargel. We’ll have to run this by the boss, Dan Abrams, but wasn’t Letterman’s 10-minute speech his “side of the story?”

There was more though:

He wanted to get out ahead of the story and that’s exactly what he did. he’s a master at manipulating audiences. that’s what he does for a living. so to think that David Letterman gave the entire story and there’s nothing more to be said is simply wrong.

NEXT: See Curry and Rivera’s full interviews.

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cbs, David Letterman, Geraldo at Large, Geraldo Rivera, Late Show WIth David Letterman, Robert "Joe" Halderman, Robert J. Halderman, Sextortion, Today Show

11 comments

Gianrico says:

October 5, 2009 at 2:34 pm

The trouble with defense lawyers is doublespeak and obfuscation. The first thing they learn in law school is that it’s not about right and wrong or justice. It’s about dveloping a plausible argument to win and keep your clients out of jail. Ethics is an esoteric vocabulary word that doesn’t belong in the courtroom. He’s manipulating the ‘press’ like a circus ringmaster.
Since the MSM has played along and made the story about the victim’s sexual escapades instead of the alleged perpetration of extortion, which is a crime. Obviously, making money off tabloid journalism is more important than having ethical journalistic restraint and just reporting the news.

libra blue says:

October 5, 2009 at 3:04 pm

The bigger story is the extortion case, but if Letterman used his “positon” to manipulate the “help” then he should be held responsible for it. This case is going to end up hurting his family more than Letterman. The trouble with these celebrites is that they think they can keep their little “secrets” quiet forever, but it all comes out when they get caught or when they die, whichever comes first. Sooner or later it all comes out in the end and their families usually have to end up paying the price.

Dan Abrams says:

October 5, 2009 at 3:12 pm

All he has done here is insult David Letterman while tossing in a few of the platitudes we have come to expect from defense attorneys in high profile cases. Yes its true you have to have “criminal intent” but that is a legal term of art which does not mean you had to intend to be a criminal.

Gianrico says:

October 5, 2009 at 3:38 pm

Mr. Abrams,
The story is about the alleged crime. THAT is what is germain. However the defense describes it with legalistic verbal gymnastics will be decided in the courtroom. All other speculations about Mr.Letterman’s consensual escapades are superfluous. They only add to stimulate the prurient interests of the public. Only the voyeurs or perverts want to know the pertinent details with whom Mr. Letterman slept. Until and if the young ladies come forward voluntarily to provide a different context , I’m sure they’d prefer to stay out of the limelight.

Puter Boi says:

October 5, 2009 at 3:44 pm

Funny stuff.
The fact that Halderman accepted a check doesn’t indicate innocence, it however might indicate desperation….stupidity….arrogance…
I suspect Letterman will be gone this time next year…of his own volition…

It is so cool to read a Krakauer piece that doesn’t mention FOX or Beck. Congrats!!

sarainitaly says:

October 5, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Shargel was driving me crazy…why go on these shows and not say anything? Bottom line, blackmailers should do some time, but the worst is finding out Dave is a perv. Having multiple affairs with staffers, when he is the head honcho…. and one of them was an INTERN. Hello!? How many Monica Lewinsky jokes did Dave make? It’s one thing to work with someone, and fall in love. It’s another to have a live in partner for 25 years, but run around behind her back, having sex with your 20 something staffers.

I bet you anything there were plenty of ticked off females at NBC that knew he was messing around with certain employees, and saw the favoritism going on. It won’t be long before those stories emerge. I also read Dave paid college tuition for one of them.

Dave lost me as a viewer with his take down of Palin, and he made matters worse with his gross joke about her daughter. As they say, karma’s a b*tch.

And it also reminds us why POTUS’s shouldn’t appear on Late Night talk shows.

My take away from Today’s interview with this lawyer is that Dave was up to some pretty nasty deeds, and his client was only trying to do his part to expose him. That’s the vibe I got…

Jim Treacher says:

October 5, 2009 at 4:06 pm

“Since the MSM has played along and made the story about the victim’s sexual escapades instead of the alleged perpetration of extortion, which is a crime.”

I’ve seen stories about both. But maybe Letterman’s sexual escapades wouldn’t be such an issue if he hadn’t made millions by mocking the sexual escapades of others.

libra blue says:

October 5, 2009 at 4:44 pm

@Jim Treacher, Great point! I totally agree! What goes around comes around and it has now “come around” to Letterman. I hope he enjoys the ride!

libra blue says:

October 5, 2009 at 4:46 pm

@sarainitaly, Of course you are right, but as I said, I think Letterman is the norm, not the exception in TV land. There are many more where he came from that will fall in the future.

scrivener says:

October 5, 2009 at 6:11 pm

LIke I said yesterday, maybe Letterman was the ultimate target of the sting, not Halderman, who may have thought he was participating in an investigation involving sexual harassment (or a sex crime?) and was recruited as the “patsy.” Letterman’s in hot water over his staff sexcapades, Halderman won’t be doing any more 9/11 stories, and, I predict, this case will NEVER come to trail, because it’s already “Mission Accomplished.” Now are you getting the (possible) picture, people? Same folks who are doing this, maybe: http://nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded-vigilante-network-terrorizes-america

Laurie Beth says:

October 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

All of this “what goes around comes around” stuff is very cute, but it won’t hold any water unless it’s reflected in his ratings–wake me up when that happens. I love Conan, but come on.

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