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 called 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.

Shargel said the charge against his client is “so obviously out of character to the point of not making any sense.“

He said that Letterman manipulates audiences for a living and that to think he “gave the entire story and there’s nothing more to be said is simply wrong.“

Halderman is a producer for the true-crime show “48 Hours Mystery.“ He pleaded not guilty Friday in Manhattan to attempted first-degree grand larceny.

Shargel said he’s looking forward to cross-examining Letterman.