Letterman blackmailer gets early prison release

The man who attempted blackmailing David Letterman has been released early from prison.

The Associated Press reports that former CBS producer Robert Halderman, known as “Joe”, was released early from his imprisonment on Rikers Island, a New York City jail, due to good behavior. He nevertheless must serve 1,000 hours of community service, and will remain on probation for five years.

Halderman served four months of his six-month sentence, given to him earlier this year for his demanding 2 million dollars from The Late Show host David Letterman. Halderman threatened to reveal Letterman’s former affairs with women on his staff if he didn’t pay. Instead of being blackmailed, Letterman revealed the affairs himself and confessed his guilt. Halderman eventually pleaded guilty to grand larceny.

“He survived this, and he’s glad to be getting off the island,” Halderman’s lawyer, Gerald Shargel told the press on Wednesday.

The case took an emotional toll on Letterman, who had recently married his long-time girlfriend at the time. The couple has a six-year-old son together and have been dating since 1986.