David Letterman is a class act.

CBS News confirmed today that producer Robert (Joe) Halderman of the crime show 48 Hours was arrested today in connection with an attempt to extort 2 million dollars from Late Night Host David Letterman.  While authorities are not releasing any names in association with the arrest, Fox news is reporting that the controversy centers on Stephanie Birkitt, Halderman’s girlfriend.  Birkitt was at one time an assistant to Letterman.  She allegedly wrote in her personal diary details of the affair between her and Letterman which is reported to have gone on for years. 

The news was made public by none other than Letterman himself during Thursdays taping of his show.  Here is the clip:

Letterman is talking about finding a package in his car 3 weeks ago containing the threatening message along with “evidence”.  He went to his lawyer and they met with the individual responsible for the package.  Apparently, the person threatened to write a screenplay and a book exposing the information unless he received 2 million. Ultimately, they gave the individual a phony check for 2 million dollars.  Letterman has described the experience as “Creepy”.  I’ll bet.

It would definitely creep me out to get in my car at six in the morning to find this envelope full of threatening information.  I would have to wonder who was watching me at that very moment.  Were they near, even in my car?  Letterman’s handling of the situation shows a lot of class.  It also shows experience.  What this bonehead attempting to extort 2 million bucks forgot was this: this ain’t Letterman’s first rodeo. 

In 2005, a painter on Letterman’s Montana ranch named Kelly A. Frank plotted to kidnap Letterman’s nanny and son and hold them for 5 million dollars ransom.  After being incarcerated for this, this same felon broke out of prison in 2007 and was recaptured 5 days later.  So, David had to be concerned about this individual being on the loose for that long.  Also, Margaret Mary Ray began stalking Letterman in 1988.  For the next 5 years she repeatedly trespassed at his Connecticut home, even stealing his car and committing home invasion.  Letterman never pressed charges against the woman as she was mentally ill. 

So, why do I think Letterman’s a class act in this situation?  Watching his telling of the extortion attempt and what it’s basis was, I was struck by his candor.  I was also struck by the fact that he did not give this more weight than it deserved.  While the audience seemed torn trying to decide if he was joking or not, Letterman never changed his expression during the explanation of the events.  He simply put it out there for them to hear from him and not from the media, which has a habit of over blowing situations like these for all the wrong reasons.

There is no need to bash Letterman in any way, shape or form.  The man was divorced in 1977 and not married again until March of this year.  Pretty thin scenario for extortion if you ask me.  As a single man who was one of the most popular television figures of 2 generations, I would be amazed if he hadn’t had sex at some point.  I, for one, hope this becomes a big story for the media, not because Letterman had sex, but because a CBS Producer attempted to extort 2 million dollars.