Should David Letterman Have Kept Quiet? Mark Geragos Says Yes
Observers are debating how best to handle shakedown attempts, following David Letterman’s startling announcement on his Late Show television program last week that he had sexual relationships with some women employees.
Although Letterman’s decision to complain to the authorities and go public led to the arrest of a CBS News producer accused of attempting to extort $2 million from him and presumably discouraged anyone else who might have been tempted to tattle, it also had some adverse consequences for Letterman. For one thing, he is now being accused of sexual harassment by attorney Gerald Shargel, who is defending the producer in a Manhattan criminal case, reports the Show Tracker blog of the Los Angeles Times.
Celebrity attorney Mark Geragos tells USA Today that he thinks Letterman would have done better to lie low.
“I’ve handled 15 or 20 cases in the last 20 years, and all these with one exception were resolved privately—not one case did I ever pay,” he says. “You educate [the blackmailer] that what they’re doing is a crime. You handle this without getting involved in criminal prosecution; there are just no winners in a criminal prosecution.”
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “David Letterman’s Lawyer Wore Wire to Get Evidence re Alleged Extortion Attempt”
ABAJournal.com: “Suspect’s Lawyer in Letterman Case Does Talk Shows, Says Client Lacked Intent”
American Lawyer (reprinted in New York Lawyer, reg. req.): “Inquiry Into Letterman Funny Business Will Be an Inside Job, CBS GC Says”
Muckety: “Gerald Shargel has another high-profile client”
New York Times (Maureen Dowd op-ed): “Men Behaving Badly”
New York Times: “Letterman Apologizes on the Air to His Wife “
TV Zone: (Newsday): “What’s next for David Letterman? Nothing good”
Last updated on Oct. 7 to link to Maureen Dowd op-ed.
