Conn. judge to decide whether to keep search warrants sealed in Letterman extortion case
By APThursday, October 15, 2009
Judge to decide: Keep Letterman warrants sealed?
NORWALK, Conn. — A Connecticut judge has rejected a prosecutor’s request to close a hearing in the case of a newsman accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman.
Norwalk Superior Court Judge Bruce Hudok ruled Thursday that arguments over whether search warrants should remain under wraps will be handled in open court.
Prosecutor Suzanne Vieux (VEW) is asking Hudok to keep closed the search warrants for the home and car of CBS News producer Robert J. “Joe” Halderman.
Halderman has pleaded not guilty to trying to extort $2 million from the late-night TV host in return for keeping some of the comedian’s sexual affairs quiet.
Vieux’s motion says releasing the search warrants could subject witnesses to media scrutiny and hurt the prosecution. The judge says he will review certain sensitive information himself.
