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NEWS ABOUT: extortion

Natalee's Mom Clams Up About Van der Sloot

FBI orders Beth Holloway not to discuss suspect in disappearance

(Newser) - Natalee Holloway's mother held a press conference this morning, but an "FBI directive" kept her from discussing Joran Van der Sloot's possible involvement in her daughter's disappearance, the Birmingham News reports. Van der Sloot is the prime suspect in that case and has confessed to murdering Stephany Flores Ramirez,... More »

Blackmailed Bones Star: I'm a Cheater

TV star David Boreanaz owns up to affair before mistress can blow whistle

(Newser) - Staying ahead of a former mistress he believes is trying to blackmail him, Bones star David Boreanaz admits he's cheated on his wife. "Our marriage has been tainted with my infidelities," the Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star tells People . "I was irresponsible." He says... More »

Letterman Opens Up About Cheating Scandal

Late Show host calls infidelity 'stupid behavior'

(Newser) - David Letterman is dead set on repairing his marriage after the infidelity that led to an extortion attempt last year, People reports. Appearing on Live! With Regis and Kelly, Letterman likened the events of last year to "an explosion," saying, "You're looking at the shards and you... More »

12 Mobsters Busted in Gambino Raid

Selling teen sex a 'new low' for crime family: fed

(Newser) - New York City's Gambino crime family reached a "new low" with the trafficking of a minor to have sex with high-stakes poker players, a US attorney said yesterday as he announced charges against 14 alleged mobsters. Twelve of them are already in custody. Other charges include loansharking, drug trafficking,... More »

Letterman to NYPD, Prosecutors: Thank You

Robert Halderman cops plea in $2M blackmail case

(Newser) - The David Letterman blackmail case ended with a guilty plea today, and the Late Night host wasted little time thanking the prosecutors and investigators who nailed Robert Halderman. "I’d never been involved in anything like this in my life, and I was concerned and full of anxiety and... More »

Letterman Extortionist Conjures 'Tiger Defense'

Why can't Halderman clean up the way Woods' galpals did?

(Newser) - David Letterman’s accused extortionist came up with a novel way to use the Tiger Woods scandal to his advantage. In court documents filed yesterday, Robert Halderman’s attorney used the “If Tiger Woods’ mistresses can be paid off without going to jail, why can’t I?” defense. After... More »

Hey, Regular Joes, You've Got Blackmail

In tough times, many turn to extorting non-celebs

(Newser) - Whether the perpetrators are spurred by the recession or inspired by the David Letterman and Cindy Crawford cases, the ranks of aspiring blackmailers are swelling—and an increasing number of their plots are targeting ordinary private citizens. The typical non-celebrity extortion victim has a high net worth and has engaged... More »

Crawford Blackmailed Over Daughter's Photo

Man threatens to sell 'prank' pic of girl bound to chair

(Newser) - Cindy Crawford was the target of a bizarre extortion attempt involving a photo of her young daughter. Court documents say a German man threatened to go public with a photo of the 7-year-old girl that showed her bound to a chair and gagged. A Crawford rep says the photo was... More »

Dave Ready to Testify Against Blackmailer

Letterman prepared to 'see case through,' lawyer says

(Newser) - David Letterman is ready to take the stand in order to convict accused extortionist Robert Halderman. Dave “is fully prepared to see this case through to the end, including testifying at trial," said lawyer Daniel Horwitz. He added that Halderman’s new claim—in a bid to get... More »

Halderman Wants Extortion Case Dropped

Lawyer says he just wanted to sell Letterman a screenplay

(Newser) - Accused blackmailer Robert Halderman went to court today, and his lawyer is asking for the extortion case against him to be dismissed. In court papers, Halderman’s attorney writes, "The sensationalism surrounding this indictment, fueled by the celebrity of the purported victim and the deference paid to that celebrity... More »

Letterman Blackmailer Heads Back to Court, May Want Trial

With $100K raised for defense, Halderman plea deal looks unlikely

(Newser) - The man accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman has raised $100,000 for his defense fund ahead of tomorrow’s first hearing in the case, and some experts think Robert “Joe” Halderman won’t accept a plea bargain despite his reported money woes. “This lawyer is a... More »

Blackmailer Read Letterman All Wrong

He's notoriously private, but don't cross him

(Newser) - When Robert Halderman asked David Letterman for $2 million, he probably assumed the notoriously private Letterman would pay him off to avoid public embarrassment. But "all Dave cares about is his career," a source tells New York in a lengthy look at the host and the scandal. "... More »

'Juror Leak' Sparks Travolta Mistrial

Alleged extortionists to face new trial after word of acquittal gets out

(Newser) - A Bahamian judge ordered a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case yesterday after a loose-lipped juror apparently spread word that one of the two accused would be acquitted. The judge blamed juror misconduct after a local politician made a speech saying that a former senator—charged along with a... More »

Health Industry Shakedown Imperils Reform

Obama must ignore lobbyists for insurers, doctors, drug makers

(Newser) - In dealing with pharmaceutical companies, insurers, and the AMA, President Obama should take a page from David Letterman's book and not fall prey to blackmail, writes former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. Promises the administration made to those three constituencies in exchange for staying neutral or positive about health care reform... More »

Medic: Travolta Offered $15M to Hush

Tarino Lightbourne tries to turn the tables on John Travolta at extortion trial

(Newser) - Jett Travolta was “dead, d-e-a-d, dead” before the ambulance arrived, Bahamian paramedic Tarino Lightbourne testified yesterday—adding that it was the Travoltas’ lawyer who offered him $15 million to destroy a “Refusal of Transport/Treatment” document signed by the actor. The paramedic is charged along with a former Bahamas... More »

Letterman Brought Galpal on Family Vacations

Stephanie Birkitt was in Caribbean with Letterman, wife Regina Lasko, son

(Newser) - Add one more item to the list of things Regina Lasko has against hubby David Letterman. The Late Show host brought galpal Stephanie Birkitt along on vacations with Lasko and son Harry, sources tell the New York Post. Other friends and coworkers were also invited along; one of the trips... More »

Halderman: Dave Bedded '6 or 7' Staffers

Plus, Letterman's wife Regina Lasko forced him into second apology

(Newser) - Stephanie Birkitt is getting the most attention, but she's not be the only staffer David Letterman seduced—not by a long shot, says accused extortionist Robert Halderman. Halderman puts the figure at “six or seven,” a friend tells the New York Daily News. “He would fly them... More »

Halderman 'Enraged' Over 'Passionate Embrace'

Alleged extortionist spotted Letterman and Birkitt as recently as August

(Newser) - David Letterman’s accused extortionist, Robert “Joe” Halderman, is “a great human being “ but “he's positioned as a bad guy,” says friend and former co-worker Dr. Bob Arnot. “No one’s standing up for Joe,” he continues—so, certainly, Halderman must be glad... More »

6 Other Extorted Celebs

From Cameron Diaz all the way back to the 19th century, Letterman ain't the first

(Newser) - David Letterman isn’t the first celebrity to be brazenly blackmailed. Mental Floss lists six other notable cases:
  • Cameron Diaz: A photographer who snapped bondage-themed nude photos of the actress threatened to sell them to magazines if she wouldn’t buy them for $3.5 million—he ended up in
... More »

Grandma: Birkitt Never Had Sex With Letterman

Stephanie Birkitt's grandmother is no fan of Halderman, but seems to like Dave

(Newser) - Stephanie Birkitt, David Letterman’s galpal, may not be commenting on the extortion scandal—but her 90-year-old grandma is. Birkitt and Letterman “joked and kidded around,” but “they were just good friends,” she tells the New York Post. “She worked for Dave for 11 years.... More »

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