Metro

Letterman ‘extorter’ pushing for plea deal

The “48 Hours” producer accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman has floated an offer to plead guilty in exchange for a one-year prison term, sources told The Post.

The offer won’t be considered by the office of outgoing Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau, the sources said, because prosecutors feel the call should be made by Cyrus Vance Jr., who will take office in January.

A Letterman spokesman declined to comment on whether the late-night comedy king had been contacted about a possible plea deal.

PHOTOS: DAVID LETTERMAN EXTORTION PLOT

A one-year sentence would be a far cry from the 15 years that alleged blackmailer Robert Halderman faces if he’s convicted of trying to shake down Letterman for $2 million by threatening to expose the TV star’s series of sexual liaisons with staffers.

Halderman’s lawyer, Gerald Shargel, denied knowing anything about an offer. “There have been no plea negotiations. None whatsoever,” Shargel said.

Instead, Shargel said he plans to forge ahead this week, filing additional papers on his motion to dismiss the charges.

Prosecutors allege that Halderman, 52, dropped off a one-page screenplay “treatment” with Letterman’s driver Sept. 9. The story line revolved around an intern-loving comic whose bed-hopping antics are about to be outed.

That plot appeared to make direct reference to Letterman’s admitted affair with intern Stephanie Birkitt — a Halderman girlfriend — as well as others.

But instead of caving, Letterman went to war, contacting police and wiring his lawyer for a series of meet-ups with Halderman.

“The issue is your client does not want this information public,” Halderman told the lawyer, James Jackoway, according to prosecutors.

“I have said, for a price, I will sign a confidentiality agreement and I will not make this information public. That’s, that’s the deal.”

Armed with the tapes, cops busted Halderman Oct. 1. He is free on $200,000 bail.

Shargel has filed papers demanding dismissal of the charges, arguing that the proposed transaction was nothing more than a TV.

According to prosecutors, Halderman, who lives in Connecticut, admits on the tapes that he resorted to the scheme because his ex-wife had moved with their son to Colorado and he needed money to be able to visit him.

larry.celona
@nypost.com