Court files opened in case of newsman accused of attempting to blackmail David Letterman

October 6th, 2009 David Letterman draws strong ratings for apologyNEW YORK — David Letterman's apology to his wife and staff members means another big night in the Nielsen ratings for the late-night talk-show host. The Nielsen Co.'s overnight measurement of the nation's 56 biggest markets netted Letterman's "Late Show" on CBS a 4.2 rating — higher than anything rival NBC had in prime-time.

October 5th, 2009 Jokes, apologies from David Letterman on his showNEW YORK — David Letterman acknowledges in his on-air apologies to his wife and staff for having sex with co-workers that he has his work cut out for him. As Letterman mixed wisecracks with contrition, he said his wife, Regina Lasko, had been "horribly hurt by my behavior" and stated flat-out that those affairs "are in the past." The CBS late-night host vowed during Monday's show to repair his relationship with his wife, whom he married in March after a years-long courtship.

October 5th, 2009 Audience says Letterman apologizes to wife on showNEW YORK — Audience members who attended David Letterman's taping of "Late Show" on Monday say the talk show host spoke at length about the revelations he made on the program last week about having sex with women on his staff. In numerous interviews following the show's afternoon taping, audience members said Letterman led his monologue by speaking about the situation in tones both serious and comedic.

October 5th, 2009 Suspect's lawyer says Letterman 'manipulates'NEW YORK — The defense lawyer for the CBS News producer charged with trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman is calling the talk-show host "a master at manipulating audiences." Attorney Gerald Shargel defended Robert J. "Joe" Halderman on Monday during a round of interviews on network television morning shows.

October 5th, 2009 Letterman apologizes to wife on Monday's showNEW YORK — David Letterman apologized to his wife on Monday's "Late Show," saying she had been "horribly hurt by my behavior." The late-night host vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko. "Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me," said Letterman, according to an early transcript of the program released by CBS.

October 5th, 2009 AP Source: Staffer's diary used in Letterman plotNEW YORK — A CBS producer accused of blackmailing David Letterman used pages from a former assistant's diary that described an affair with the "Late Show" host, a law enforcement official confirmed Monday. Stephanie Birkitt, 34, works on the show and lived in Norwalk, Conn., with Robert Halderman until August.

September 30th, 2009 NJ jurors quizzed on willingness to watch sex tapeMAYS LANDING, N.J. — Potential jurors in a video blackmail case involving an Atlantic City councilman and his political rivals are being asked if they are willing to watch a sex tape as part of the evidence.

September 21st, 2009 Obama talks economy, visits 'Letterman' on MondayWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama starts the week in New York, where he'll continue his health-care media blitz with another TV appearance. He'll tape an interview on the "Late Show" with David Letterman.

September 1st, 2009 Man accused of trying to kick feces at policeFARGO, N.D. — A man was accused of trying to kick his own feces at police officers who responded to a party at his home.

August 28th, 2009 A brief history of the Exxon Mobil sabotage caseA quick look at the history of the case in which Exxon Mobil Corp. is accused of sabotaging wells it has abandoned.

July 17th, 2009 MUNICH — Three men have been arrested in Germany over a failed attempt to blackmail the country's richest woman, BMW heiress Susanne Klatten, prosecutors said Friday. Klatten went to the police in mid-June immediately after her office received a letter from the would-be blackmailers, said Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, a spokesman for prosecutors in Munich.

June 16th, 2009 Post-WWII immigration files to be opened to publicKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Millions of files containing detailed information about U.S.

June 16th, 2009 Sarah Palin accepts David Letterman's apologyNEW YORK — Sarah Palin says she accepts David Letterman's apology for the joke he made about her daughter. The Alaska governor, in a statement issued Tuesday, said the apology was accepted "on behalf of all young women, like my daughters, who hope men who 'joke' about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve." On his CBS' "Late Show" on Monday night, Letterman said his joke about one of Palin's daughters being "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez can't be defended.

June 12th, 2009 Palin-Letterman still at odds over comedian's jokeWASHINGTON — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is insisting that comedian David Letterman "apologize to young women" for a joke he made on the air about one of her teen-age daughters.

May 9th, 2009 Teen says he stabbed NYC newsman in self defenseNEW YORK — A 16-year-old charged in the stabbing death of a New York City newsman says he acted in self defense. John Katehis (KAY'-tis) is being held without bail.