Limbaugh Attorney Blames Politics in Probe

AP | 12/05/03 | JILL BARTON

[kattracks]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Rush Limbaugh's attorney accused the local prosecutor Friday of having political motives in investigating his client for allegedly purchasing painkillers illegally.

Roy Black said Limbaugh was not a target of State Attorney Barry Krischer's investigation into the illegal sale of painkillers until the National Enquirer in October quoted Limbaugh's maid as saying she had unlawfully sold the conservative radio commentator such medications.

"Suddenly an elected public official could not ignore the name Rush Limbaugh," Black said on NBC's "Today" show. Black is also a paid NBC commentator. "They are looking to publicly embarrass him and effect his radio program....Why is Rush Limbaugh only person treated like this in America?"

Krischer's spokesman did not immediately return a call Friday. Krischer said in a statement Thursday that Limbaugh's rights have been scrupulously protected.

"Whether Mr. Limbaugh is subject to prosecution for any crimes is still under investigation. Mr. Limbaugh is presumed innocent," Krischer said.

Investigators allege in search warrants released Thursday that Limbaugh engaged in illegal drug use and went "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers. Doctor shopping refers to looking for a doctor willing to prescribe drugs illegally, or getting prescriptions for a single drug from more than one doctor at the same time.

Limbaugh denied any wrongdoing to listeners on his show Thursday. Reading from a statement prepared by Black, Limbaugh said medical records will clear him.

"What these records show is that Mr. Limbaugh suffered extreme pain and had legitimate reasons for taking pain medication," Limbaugh said. "Unfortunately, because of Mr. Limbaugh's prominence and well-known political opinions, he is being subjected to an invasion of privacy no citizen of this republic should endure."

In the search warrants, investigators say they were looking for medical, insurance and appointment records for Limbaugh as well as cash receipts and prescription forms during raids made of two doctor's offices Nov. 25.

Limbaugh "alternated physicians to obtain overlapping prescriptions" and failed to tell each doctor that he was seeing others," according to the warrants, filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.

Limbaugh's actions violated the letter and spirit of the law related to doctor shopping, according to one of the warrants.

Prosecutors began investigating in December 2002 after Limbaugh's former maid, Wilma Cline, told them she sold Limbaugh "large quantities of hydrocodone, Oxycontin and other pharmaceutical drugs in Palm Beach County over the course of many years."

Cline provided investigators with e-mails and answering machine recordings to support her claims, according to the warrants.

The medical offices were raided after investigators examined records from Palm Beach pharmacies near Limbaugh's $24 million oceanfront mansion that they say support the doctor-shopping allegations.

The records seized list prescriptions for more than 2,100 pills from March 24 through Sept. 26. The medications include the powerful painkillers Oxycontin, Lorcet, Norco, hydrocodone and Kadian. In addition, Limbaugh received prescriptions for the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, the cholesterol-lowering drug Niacin, and Clonodine, which treats high blood pressure.

Two of the four search warrants were executed at the offices of Jupiter Outpatient Surgery Center. A third was executed at Palm Beach Ear, Nose and Throat Association in Palm Beach Gardens. A fourth for the same location has not yet been executed.

The physicians named in the warrants are Nathaniel Drourr, Antonio De La Cruz, Lawrence Deziel and John Murray.

Drourr and officials at both centers declined comment, citing privacy laws. Murray did not return a phone call seeking comment, and the other doctors could not be immediately reached.

Limbaugh was absent from his show for five weeks recently while spending time at a drug rehabilitation program because of his addiction to prescription painkillers.

Previously, law enforcement sources in Palm Beach County confirmed that a criminal investigation into a prescription drug ring involved Limbaugh.

Last month, a law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity said authorities also were investigating the money trail related to Limbaugh's drug purchases.

Limbaugh allegedly withdrew cash 30 to 40 times at amounts just under the $10,000 limit that requires a bank to report the transaction to the federal government. The radio host responded with a blanket denial of the allegations during his third day back on the air.

Limbaugh, reading from his lawyer's statement, said Thursday, "Let us make our position clear: Rush Limbaugh is not part of a drug ring. He was never a target of a drug investigation. He became addicted to a prescription drug during legitimate medical treatment. He has publicly admitted this problem and has successfully sought treatment which continues today."

[Catspaw]

When Rush was outed by the National Inquirer, and made some limited admissions about his drug use, he might as well have painted a big bullseye on his back.

[buffyt]

I think the LEFT is trying to SILENCE Rush before Election 2004. But they can just dream on. We know Rush isn't perfect. NO ONE IS. But Rush is 100% better than any Liberal on Radio OR TV! I don't always agree with Rush. I don't always agree with my dear husband. But Rush is usually RIGHT ON when it comes to politics and current events. And the Liberals HATE him for that~

[jbstrick]

This is just the begining.

They are trying to go after Hannity next.... Then the rest of us.

[veronica]

When Rush was outed by the National Inquirer, and made some limited admissions about his drug use, he might as well have painted a big bullseye on his back.

Mega-powerful conservatives always have bullseye on their backs. Comes with the territory.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

See thread describing Black/Holt interview.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1034430/posts

[kattracks]

The only way they can silence him is if he loses his audience, and I don't think that's going to happen.

[Solson]

What the hell was Limbaugh and his attorney expecting? A welcome wagon?

Give me a break. Limbaugh admits to being addicted to painkillers ONLY after it break in the enquirer. Much of the enquirer story seems to be true yet somehow, we're supposed to believe this investigation is politically motivation only?

Sorry, I'm a big fan of Rush and I don't agree with the subpoena for every medical record from his doctors BUT Rush should have expected every crevice of his life to be examined before and after this thing broke.

[Let's Roll]

If I had Rush's resources, the Palm Beach County DA would have his personal life turned inside out. Anyone can go "fishing".

[laotzu]

"..the Palm Beach County DA would have his personal life turned inside out"

Whether right or wrong, that is exactly what the Clintons would do as well.

[Hillary's Folly]

You are right, of course. And I was very skeptical and critical of Rush during his absence. But now that he is back I do have to admit that I like him a lot more now. He does seem more like his old self. I think it is clear now that the drug abuse was indeed effecting the quality of his show.

Of course anything that happens to him, just like to Michael Jackson, he's opened the door too.

[freekitty]

What I don't understand is how the authorities can put a person's medical information out there? I would think that this would be private information. I keep hearing the word responsible.

My question is this responsible behavior?

[1Old Pro]

This is clearly politically motivated. Too bad Rush isn't Ted Kennedy, he could make a phone call and everything would be swept under the rug, including crimes as serious as manslaughter.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[uncbob]

Mega-powerful conservatives always have bullseye on their backs. Comes with the territory.

That's true BUT when the GOP takes power they no nothing to go after democrat or liberal law breakers

Case in point the two DOD types that laeked Linda Tripps records were DEFENDED by the Bush administration in the court battle and no action was taken against them

Charles Colson who got one record under Nixon was subsequently prosecuted tried and sent to jail by the DOJ

[uncbob]

But now that he is back I do have to admit that I like him a lot more now. He does seem more like his old self. I think it is clear now that the drug abuse was indeed effecting the quality of his show.

I noticed that also but he also seems hyper . I guess it is the stress of fighting off the call of the addiction which must be pretty heavy now that he is under such pressure

[longtermmemmory]

For those who do not know, this type of scrutiny on a user case is unheard of in florida criminal courts. It is rare, (as in never), for prosecutors to take a mere user case to this level of manpower and effort.

The goal of the Palm Beach State Attorney is to find (fish) for charges that will take Rush limbaugh outside the perview of Drug Offender Court. (Treatment and then dismissal with no criminal record program) The doctors in at least one of those buildings are reputable and generate far more income from being doctors than to mess with pills.

It is also telling that the financial crimes division of the prosecutors office is involved not narcotics.

This State Attrorney (aka DA) is up for re-election and has no serious competition. This smakes of political action. It also smaks of the local democrats seeking to rehabilitate themselves after the butterfly ballot.

[Let's Roll]

Right, stay above the fray and have your life destroyed when everyone else gets a pass for the same thing?

[lelio]

It is rare, (as in never), for prosecutors to take a mere user case to this level of manpower and effort.

That's like saying its rare for speeders to be stopped on the freeway, and complaining when you get caught.

[longtermmemmory]

No it is rare because user cases IDENTICAL to rush are quickly dropped into the Drug Court System. This goes way beyond normal scrutiny. (The prosecutor's office specifically wants to find/fish/dig-up charges outside of Drug Court's perview. That can not be emphasised enough)

It would be akin to getting caught speeding and then having the police audit all you mechanics records to see if you modified your car and then audit you finacial papers to make sure you bought your car following all laws regarding automobile purchases.

This is waaaaaaaaay beyond any scrutiny a joe citizen would recieve. This is a criminal audit. The "investigation" is just an excuse to probe.

so I repeat:

It is rare, (as in never), for prosecutors to take a mere user case to this level of manpower and effort.