NEW YORK — The man arrested in the $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman has been identified as "48 Hours" producer Robert "Joe" Halderman.
In a Friday morning press conference held by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, prosecutors disclosed that Halderman had been charged with attempted grand larceny between the period of Sept. 9 and Sept. 30.
If convicted, the 52-year-old Halderman faces up to 16 years in prison. His arraignment is scheduled to take place later today at 2:15 p.m.
The scandal began when Halderman delivered a package to Letterman on Sept. 9 at 6 a.m., demanding a "large chunk of money" because he knew about the host having sexual relationships with female members of his "Late Show" staff.
Letterman responded by immediately contacting his attorney, who in turn met Halderman at the Essex House hotel on Sept. 15. At the meeting, Halderman allegedly attempted to extort $2 million in exchange for keeping quiet.
"This morning, I did something I've never done in my life," Letterman told his studio audience Thursday night. "I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury."
"I was worried for myself, I was worried for my family," he continued. "I felt menaced by this, and I had to tell them all of the creepy things that I had done ... The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show. My response to that is, yes I have. Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would."
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