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NEWS ABOUT: extortion

Just Wait: 'Trashy' Letterman Letters Are Coming

Birkitt penned series of 'Dear Dave' letters, plus more on extortion

(Newser) - It’s only a matter of time before Stephanie Birkitt’s “trashy” love letters to David Letterman become public. Sadly, “we’re not talking crazy sexual escapades,” a source tells the New York Daily News. “It’s her musings about them. It’s trash.” More... More »

Galpal Cheated on Halderman With Dave

Stephanie Birkitt was still seeing Letterman until last fall, sources say

(Newser) - The story of David Letterman’s twisted love triangle with alleged extortionist Robert Halderman continues to unfold. Former Late Show staffer Stephanie Birkitt was still sleeping with Letterman even after moving in with Halderman—and as late as last fall Birkitt and Letterman went hiking together, sources tell the New ... More »

Letterman Gets Mostly Raves for Handling Scandal

Plus: Late Show host did not violate company guidelines with affairs

(Newser) - Nope, the David Letterman extortion story didn’t lose momentum over the weekend. From fans to fellow talk show hosts, everyone’s still talking:
  • “If we are now holding late-night talk-show hosts to the same moral accountability as we hold politicians or clergymen, I'm out,” said Letterman follow-up—
... More »

Letterman Apologizes to Wife, Staff —and Palin

Late Show host still glad he pushed back against alleged extortionist

(Newser) - David Letterman wasn’t planning to talk anymore about his extortion scandal, “but it seems like people want to talk about it,” he said on last night’s Late Show. After apologizing to the staff for subjecting them to “hounding” from reporters, he made it clear that,... More »

Letterman 'Manipulating' Audience: Halderman Lawyer

Robert Halderman's attorney also wonders why Letterman would pay by check

(Newser) - David Letterman is “a master at manipulating audiences,” and he’s not telling the whole story of the alleged extortion plot by Robert Halderman, says Halderman’s attorney. Gerald Shargel did the talk-show circuit this morning, E! reports, and he pointed out to Today that, “in the... More »

CBS Tries to Bury Letterman Vid

As network works to erase confessional, more info on extortion, galpal comes out

(Newser) - For reasons unknown to Rachel Sklar, CBS spent the weekend removing “unauthorized copies” of David Letterman’s confession from YouTube—and still hasn't posted the clip on its own site. “Check your Fair Use rules,” Sklar writes on Mediaite. “Videos of Letterman’s mea culpa don’... More »

Letterman, Crew Steel for Fallout

Scandal may hurt talk show king with female audience

(Newser) - Staffers of the David Letterman show were girding for fallout today before the first two tapings of the program since the talk show king's shocking revelation that he was being blackmailed over sex with female assistants. "We've seen a lot before with Dave," a source told the Daily ... More »

SNL: Dave Extortion a 'Stupid Human Trick'

Plus, the Daily News thinks Dave has a secret love nest in his office—or at least a couch

(AP) - Add Saturday Night Live to the ranks of those making sport of David Letterman's difficulties. But in the hands of SNL, Dave got off pretty easy. "Weekend Update" anchor Seth Meyers dubbed the extortion attempt "a stupid human trick," adding that the would-be blackmailer was threatening to... More »

Not Guilty Plea in Letterman Shakedown Scheme

Fellow CBS employee makes bond after bail set at $200K

(Newser) - A 48 Hours producer pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree grand larceny today after allegedly trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman. The Late Night host was the target of an attempt to "destroy the reputation of Mr. Letterman and to submit him and his family to humiliation... More »

Extortion Try Just Latest Weirdness in Dave's Life

Letterman's extortion plot follows earlier stalkers, would-be kidnapper

(Newser) - David Letterman’s extortion drama is just the latest in a long line of bizarre happenings. A look back:
  • 1993: Margaret Ray, who stole Letterman’s Porsche in the 1980s and called herself “Mrs. David Letterman,” broke into his home at least seven times and was arrested in
... More »

Letterman Paid for Assistant's Degree: Rumor

Host said to keep three to five young women on staff at all times

(Newser) - David Letterman can be a great boss for certain special employees. In the case of Stephanie Birkitt, who once dated alleged blackmailer Robert Halderman, Letterman paid her way through college, Gawker reports, citing “the scuttlebutt on the set.” Birkitt was Letterman’s top assistant—the host employed at... More »

At First Blush, Fans Forgive Dave

Scandal-tainted David Letterman rules in ratings and with devotees

(Newser) - David Letterman’s fans—at least the handful surveyed by the Daily News—agree: All is forgiven. In fact, his extortionist is the one who should be ashamed of himself. “We love Letterman no matter what he does. He brings us joy,” said a would-be audience member outside... More »

Extortionist Dated Letterman Staffer Who Had Affair

'48 Hours' producer slept around, former father-in-law says

(Newser) - When David Letterman shocked last night's audience with his tale of blackmail—or as the New York Post calls it, sextortion—he left out the names of everyone else involved, but details are beginning to emerge. The man arrested in the case was Robert Joel Halderman, 57, an Emmy-winning producer... More »

Letterman Reveals Extortion Attempt Over Office Sex

After grand jury testimony, late-night host says con man wanted $2M,

(Newser) - In a highly unusual moment during the taping of last night’s Late Show, David Letterman confessed to his studio audience that he had had sexual flings with female staffers on the show, and that they had become the basis for a $2 million extortion attempt by a CBS news... More »

Cops Seize Mafia Don's 'Croc Weapon'

Mobster accused of threatening to feed extortion victims to 6-foot beast

(Newser) - Italian police have confiscated a crocodile they suspect was used by a Mafia boss to persuade people to cough up protection money. The gangster invited extortion victims to his home and threatened to set the crocodile on them if they didn't pay up, investigators say. He has has been charged... More »

Travolta Recounts Effort to Save 'Autistic' Jett

Continuing testimony could be key in $25M extortion case

(Newser) - John Travolta appeared in a Bahamian court today and recounted his efforts to save dying son Jett earlier this year, E! reports. He also publicly acknowledged Jett's troubles for the first time: "He was autistic. He suffered from a seizure disorder." After a nanny woke them to say... More »

Mexican Drug Cartels Turn Into Mafias

(Newser) - Mexican drug cartels have evolved into mafia empires, charging protection fees to businesses and providing social services and jobs where government cannot, the AP reports. Behind it lurks the threat of violence or kidnapping, which drug lords carry out with near impunity. "Today, the traffickers have big companies, education,... More »

Louisville Coach Admits Sex With Accused Blackmailer

Woman charged with $10M extortion attempt

(Newser) - University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino told police that he had consensual sex with a woman who later accused him of rape and tried to blackmail him for $10 million, according to records obtained by the Courier-Journal. Karen Sypher, the estranged wife of the team's equipment manager, has... More »

'Abstinence' State Senator Quits After Intern Affair

(Newser) - Pro-abstinence Tennessee State Sen. Paul Stanley has stepped down in the wake of revelations that he had an affair with his 22-year-old intern, reports AP. The 47-year-old married father of two admitted the affair to investigators after his intern's boyfriend allegedly attempted to blackmail Stanley for $10,000. "Due... More »

Real Housewife's Dark Past Comes to Light

Danielle Staub has a felony on her record

(Newser) - The shocking reveal is a reality-TV staple, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey has a doozy—cast member Danielle Staub has a criminal past. Even on a show that trades in bad taste, Staub sticks out for being its first felon, reports the New York Post. In last week's... More »

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