By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A CBS producer grew so paranoid after allegedly threatening David Letterman with a $2 million bribe he feared the Late Night host would kill him, wire tap transcripts filed by prosecutors revealed Tuesday.
Robert Halderman, a former producer of "48 Hours," also thought his house might be "mysteriously" torched or that he would lose his job, the transcripts show.
Halderman faces extortion and attempted grand larceny charges for demanding money in exchange for keeping quiet about Letterman's affairs with CBS employees, which the "Late Night" host later admitted to on national television.
"I'm not sure how crazy [Letterman] is, or uh, how dangerous he might be. So just for safe keeping I'm going to keep a copy of everything," Halderman said at one of three meetings with Letterman's attorney.
Prosecutors said Halderman's intention to extort Letterman became "crystal clear" at the meetings. Jim Jackoway, Letterman's attorney, was was wearing a wire to record the conversations in cooperation with the District Attorney.
As the alleged extortion negotiations continued, Halderman expressed fears he would be harmed by Letterman or someone acting on the celebrity's orders.
"The only way to be sure that I never talk to anybody, is for somebody to kill me," Halderman was recorded saying.
The fallen CBS producer also told Letterman's lawyer he wanted the $2 million paid by check "to make it appear as if they were engaged in a legitimate business transaction," prosecutors charged.
Halderman's lawyer argued there were legitimate business talks between Halderman and Jackoway, during which his client was trying to sell the rights to a screenplay for profit.
"This was a commercial transaction that did not violate the penal law," his attorney Gerald Shargel said Nov. 10 after filing a motion in court.
Halderman's next scheduled court appearance is Jan. 19.
