Robert “Joe” Halderman’s lawyer, Gerald L. Shargel, sat down in an interview with The Today Show this morning where he told everyone that David Letterman was a master manipulator.

Shargel made an awkward TV appearance where he stated that he looks “forward to cross-examining David Letterman.  If you only hear David Letterman’s side of the story, take it at face value, and say, ‘Turn off the sets, that Halderman’s guilty’- I think that’s plain wrong.”

“In the history of extortion attempts, there’s never been, as far as I know, someone paying by check,” the attorney said.

Shargel focused on Letterman’s attempts to “get out ahead of the story” with his public mea culpa.

“He’s a master at manipulating audiences, that’s what he does for a living,” said Shargel.  ”So to think that David Letterman gave the entire story, and there’s nothing more to be said, it’s simply wrong.”

Shargel said the 48 Hour Mystery Emmy winning producer had an excellent reputation in the industry and that these allegations that  he tried to asked Letterman for $2 million to pay off his debts makes “absolutely no sense.”

To read more about this case click here.  To see the interview click here.