David Letterman and Joe Halderman
John P. Filo/CBS; Brad Barket/Getty
Defense attorney Gerald Shargel told reporters outside the courtroom, "There was no extortion. This was a commercial transaction, nothing more. [Letterman's] celebrity is why we are here today."
Also speaking with reporters, Letterman's attorney, Daniel Horowitz, said he rejects the notion of a "transaction," terming this a case of "classic blackmail … Dave Letterman is not on trial," he said. "He is the victim in this case."
Horowitz added, "Mr. Letterman is fully prepared to see this through to the end – including testifying at trial."
Judge Charles Solomon set the next hearing for Jan. 19 and said he would rule on Halderman's motion that month. Prosecutors have until Dec. 15 to file their response.
Halderman, 51, stands accused of threatening the Late Show host in September that unless Letterman forked over the sum, his sexual relations with female staffers would be made public.
On Oct. 1, Letterman announced Halderman's purported scheme on his CBS show, providing grist for the comic mill there and elsewhere.
In October, Halderman, who is free on $200,000 bail, pleaded not guilty to the charge, but prosecutor Judy Salwen told the court that the evidence against him is "compelling" and alleged that he was trying to "destroy" Letterman's reputation and "humiliate his family," reports CNN.
• With reporting by KATHY EHRICH DOWD
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