Halderman's lawyer argued that his client was not blackmailing the talk show host, but merely trying to sell him a script, which amounted to a "pure commercial transaction." Defense counsel Gerald Shargel also argued that the case was being driven by "sensationalism." "The sensationalism surrounding this indictment, fueled by the celebrity of the purported victim and the deference paid to that celebrity by the district attorney's office, has swallowed the only pertinent issue," wrote Shargel in his motion. Shargel also believes that Halderman should be commended for bringing to light Letterman's affairs with staffers, which he says "amounted to actionable sexual harassment." Meanwhile, the papers filed yesterday claimed that Letterman's affair with Stephanie Birkitt continued "unabated" until this past summer, although the talk show host claimed it was over before he got married in March.