Reports Stating Rush Limbaugh Was Arrested Are Inaccurate; Press Conference at 8:00 pm

Yahoo! NEWS ^ | April 28, 2006 | Source: Rush Limbaugh

[RonDog]

This just in, from Yahoo! NEWS:

Press Release

Source: Rush Limbaugh

Reports Stating Rush Limbaugh Was Arrested Are Inaccurate; Limbaugh's Attorney Holds Press Conference at 8:00 pm Tonight
Friday April 28, 7:55 pm ET

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- A spokesman for Rush Limbaugh said some news reports that state Mr. Limbaugh was arrested are inaccurate.

Separately, Rush Limbaugh's attorney, Roy Black will hold a press conference at 8:00 pm this evening at the Marriott Hotel at 1001 Okeechobbee Road in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Mr. Black will discuss the agreement reached today with the State Attorney's Office whereby a single count charge of doctor shopping that was filed today by the State Attorney will be dismissed in 18 months.

As previously announced, a primary condition of the dismissal, Mr. Limbaugh must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years. This is the same doctor under whose care Mr. Limbaugh has remained free of his addiction without relapse.

Mr. Black stated, "Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position. Accordingly, we filed today with the Court a plea of 'Not Guilty' to the charge filed by the State.

"As part of this agreement, Mr. Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during the 18 month period, must pay $30 per month for the cost of "supervision" and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement.

"Mr. Limbaugh had intended to remain in treatment. Thus, we believe the outcome for him personally will be much as if he had fought the charge and won," he said.

    Contacts:  Sitrick And Company
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              Mike Sitrick
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              Anne George

[p23185]

yet take glee in targeting much lesser individuals simply because they are conservatives.

The new crime of being conservative - just more Liberal horsesh$t. They cannot win at the ballot box and it drives them nuts.

[AndyTheBear]

The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during the 18 month period

Before and after which he is allowed to violate the law?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I'msure I heard on Fox he was arrested then released....AP report again?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Here's the AP Report:

Limbaugh Arrested in Fla. on Drug Charges

******************************************

Today: April 28, 2006 at 15:56:13 PDT

Limbaugh Arrested in Fla. on Drug Charges

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Rush Limbaugh was arrested Friday on prescription drug charges, law enforcement officials said.

Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities on a warrant issued by the state attorney's office, said agency spokeswoman Teri Barbera.

The conservative radio commentator came into the jail at about 4 p.m. with his attorney Roy Black and was released an hour later on $3,000 bail, Barbera said.

The warrant was for fraud to conceal information to obtain prescription, Barbera said.

--

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Much later we have this:

Limbaugh Reaches Settlement in Drug Case

****************************************************************

Today: April 28, 2006 at 22:21:12 PDT

Limbaugh Reaches Settlement in Drug Case

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -

0428dv-rush-attyFF Rush Limbaugh reached a settlement with prosecutors Friday in a fraud case involving prescription painkillers, though the conservative radio commentator maintains his innocence.

Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities about 4 p.m. on a warrant for fraud to conceal information to obtain a prescription, the first charge in the nearly 3-year-old case, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the state attorney. He was released an hour later on $3,000 bail.

Limbaugh's attorney, Roy Black, said his client and prosecutors reached a settlement on a charge of doctor shopping.

Under the deal, Limbaugh would eventually see the charge dismissed in 18 months if he continues treatment for drug addiction, Black said.

Limbaugh also must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past 2 1/2 years, Black said.

Limbaugh entered a plea of not guilty in court Friday.

"Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position," Black said in an e-mailed statement.

Prosecutors began investigating Limbaugh in 2003 after a tabloid newspaper reported that his housekeeper said he had used her to illegally buy painkillers. He soon took a five-week leave from his radio show to enter a rehabilitation program.

Prosecutors seized Limbaugh's records after learning that he received about 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors in six months, at a pharmacy near his Palm Beach mansion. They contended that Limbaugh engaged in "doctor shopping," or illegally deceived multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions.

Limbaugh acknowledged he became addicted to pain medication, blaming it on severe back pain.

According to Black, Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the state to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months, must pay $30 per month for the cost of supervision and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And from the BBC:

US radio pundit on drugs charge

******************************************

Last Updated: Saturday, 29 April 2006, 04:09 GMT 05:09 UK

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Printable version

US radio pundit on drugs charge

The radio host has admitted he is addicted to painkillers

US radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been charged with fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs.

The move comes after an investigation into the commentator that began over two years ago.

Mr Limbaugh admitted on air in October 2003 he was addicted to prescription painkillers after Florida authorities began an investigation into him.

The problem stemmed from spinal surgery several years ago and he has sought treatment for it, he said.

Mr Limbaugh, 55, was charged with illegally obtaining prescriptions, or "doctor shopping", after presenting himself at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

He was later released on $3,000 (£1,643) bail, according to his lawyer, Roy Black.

Deal with prosecutors

Mr Black said his client had filed a written plea of not guilty and denied the charge.

But under a deal with prosecutors, the charge will be dropped in 18 months if Mr Limbaugh continues to seek treatment for his addiction.

Mr Limbaugh has also agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the state of Florida to offset the public cost of the investigation.

"The prosecutors and I agree that there shouldn't be a criminal prosecution, and we agree there shouldn't be any court proceedings," Mr Black told Reuters news agency, adding that his client was pleased the case was over.

"He's just happy that it's finally ended and he can go back to his normal life," he said.

The case attracted widespread attention in 2003 because the popular radio commentator had been a tough critic of drug offenders.

[Valin]

Drive By Media wrong again....and again....and again....and again....and again....

[Valin]

Yea you should have heard Savage when the news broke...he was practically foaming at the mouth

So in other words it was just his normal show.

[Sterm26]

My local newscast kept blaring through the 10 o clock hour..."Rush Limbaugh Arrested!! Film at 11!!!" And they insist that there's no liberal bias....

[mojojockey]

This ought to prove liberal bias to the nonbelievers.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Getting a traffic ticked is arrest "lite", without a mug shot or fingerprints taken.

[BooksForTheRight.com]

The media didn't screw up. They intended to say that he was arrested, knowing the facts. They knew that skulls full of mush would hear the word 'arrest', and retain that, no matter what really happened.

[trubluolyguy]

Our local news commercials were saying that Rush had been arrested even after Mr. Black had his press conference.

[trubluolyguy]

Let's all admit it, Rush was breaking some law.

---

Not until it's proven in a court of law.

[PGalt]

Best wishes Rush.

[The_Victor]

The agreement does seem a bit unusual. This has all the earmarks of a defered adjudication agreement, except that the defendant usually has to plead "guilty" or "no contest." I can't figure out why he gets to plead "not guilty" but still has to pay a fine.

$30k is a pittance for Rush, and I'm sure he is just glad to have the whole mess behind him.

[AliVeritas]

Addiction is no joke, especially with pain killers. I thank God that he made it through and it's just like Rush to give them money for violating his privacy rights re: doctor's files. I'm sure if he was done with radio when this happened (let's face it... it wouldn't have been a big deal then... would it?), he would've put more energy into nailing them to the wall for it. At the end of the day, he knew he had a problem and has paid for it... for years. So let the left rant... and to Jim Vandehei, this is why there's no CNN on Air Force one; On second thought, maybe they shouldn't have FNC either (the way they're going)... turn it off, even the History Channel's not safe anymore.

Keep fighting Rush, one day at a time. God Bless.

[sheikdetailfeather]

I wish you the best, Rush. It makes me ashamed to live in Floriduh.

[RetSignman]

And they passed up the perfect opportunity to 'blacken out' some of his teeth?

[hodaka]

God, I thought it was liberals that resort to name calling. If you don't like my point of view, that's fine, but to resort to childish charges like missing a brain and calling me a slug, that's pretty low. I listen to his show all the time since I am a traveling sales rep. You all can play cute games like he wasn't charged with a crime, or what law was he breaking, but when it comes down to it, Rush admitted his drug addiction after it was exposed through the tabloids, and he went into treatment. To answer some of your questions, Rush admitted it himself that he has gone to rehab twice. Out of all the years I have listen to Rush, I don't recall him ever announcing on his show that he was taking time off for back surgery. That is why I made the assumption or theory that maybe he didn't have back pain. Want to point counter point, we'll do it, and I won't call you any names.