Letterman bribery was 'TV pitch'

David Letterman revealed the alleged blackmail plot on his show

A man accused of blackmailing chat show host David Letterman claims he was trying to pitch a TV idea to him.

Robert "Joe" Halderman's lawyer Gerald Shargel told a judge in New York that the $2m (£1.2m) demand was a "commercial transaction. Nothing more".

Outside court, Mr Letterman's lawyer Daniel J Horwitz said: "It's classic blackmail, no matter how Mr Halderman's lawyer wants to dress it up."

Mr Halderman is pleading not guilty to the charges and the case continues.

In papers filed on Tuesday, Mr Shargel argued that the charges against Mr Halderman should be dismissed because his conduct was not a crime.

State Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon is expected to rule in January.

Mr Halderman has said he gave Mr Letterman's driver a package in September, that included the supposed screenplay.

Authorities say the materials included a letter saying Mr Halderman needed to make "a large chunk of money" and a claim that the screenplay would depict how Mr Letterman's world would "collapse around him" when information about his private life was disclosed.

Just before the case was made public, Mr Letterman revealed on his show, The Late Show, that he had had sex with women he had worked with and there had been an attempt to blackmail him.

Mr Halderman, 52, producer for CBS's 48 Hours Mystery, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Mr Halderman was arrested following an undercover police "sting" operation at a New York hotel, during which he was allegedly recorded setting out his blackmail demands to Mr Letterman's lawyer.