A U.S. producer accused of blackmailing TV presenter DAVID LETTERMAN has urged a New York judge to dismiss the extortion charge against him because the case has been “sensationalised”.

Robert Halderman was charged with attempted first degree grand larceny last month (Oct09) after allegedly threatening to expose The Late Show host’s affairs with employees unless the TV titan paid $2 million (£1.25 million) to silence him.

Halderman, who has been suspended from his job as producer of CBS news show 48 Hours, returned to court on Tuesday (10Nov09) with his lawyer Gerald Shargel.

Shargel claims the case has been blown out of proportion since the news hit the headlines because it involves a “celebrity”, reports TMZ.com.

In legal papers filed in court, the lawyer writes, “The sensationalism surrounding this indictment, fueled by the celebrity of the purported victim and the deference paid to that celebrity by the District Attorney’s Office, has swallowed the only pertinent issue ….”

Shargel also defended Halderman against the extortion charges, insisting his client was attempting to sell the exclusive rights to a screenplay about Letterman’s sexual exploits to the presenter, adding it was “a pure commercial transaction”.

The case continues.