Posted on 06/27/2006 4:00:45 PM PDT by doesnt suffer fools gladly
Limbaugh Likely to Wait Several Days
By BRIAN SKOLOFF
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Rush Limbaugh will likely have to wait several days to find out if he violated his deal with prosecutors in a prescription fraud case when authorities found him in possession of a bottle of Viagra that was apparently prescribed to someone else, a spokesman for the state attorney's office said Tuesday.
Limbaugh, 55, was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after he returned on his private plane from a vacation in the Dominican Republic. Customs officials found Viagra in his bag, but his name wasn't on the prescription, Palm Beach County sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller said.
Limbaugh's lawyer, Roy Black, said the prescription was written in his doctor's name "for privacy purposes." The conservative radio host was released without being charged and investigators confiscated the Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction.
Limbaugh joked about the search on his radio show Tuesday, saying Customs officials didn't believe him when he said he got the pills at the Clinton Library and he was told they were blue M&Ms. He later added, chuckling: "I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Wish I could tell you about it."
It is generally not illegal under Florida law for a physician to prescribe medication in a third party's name if all parties are aware and the doctor documents it correctly, said Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the state attorney in Palm Beach County. He would not discuss specifics in the Limbaugh case Tuesday.
The sheriff's office was continuing its investigation and would turn the case over to prosecutors in several days, Edmondson said. The alleged violation could be a second-degree misdemeanor if Limbaugh's doctor doesn't confirm the prescription.
Under last month's deal with prosecutors, authorities will dismiss a "doctor shopping" charge if Limbaugh doesn't get arrested for 18 months, among other terms. Prosecutors had said he illegally deceived multiple doctors to get overlapping painkiller prescriptions. Limbaugh denied the charges but admitted he was addicted to painkillers.
This latest case may simply be dismissed if prosecutors can confirm with Limbaugh's doctor that the prescription was indeed for Limbaugh, said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. attorney in Florida.
"It's perhaps a little embarrassing but not highly incriminating," Coffey said.
In addition, possession of Viagra is in a "completely different universe than a matter that would involve Schedule Two (controlled) substances such as OxyContin" Coffey added.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Viagra is not considered a controlled substance because "it's not something you can be addicted to," said DEA Investigator Maria Gilbert.
The Food and Drug Administration oversees regulations concerning non-addictive drugs that are not considered controlled substances, Gilbert said. A telephone call to the FDA was not immediately returned Tuesday.
I didn't know that about Viagra too until I read it on this board. I'm always learning new things here. Rush should have known better than to bring a bottle of pills with someone else's name on it, so in a way he was asking for trouble. I'm sure he'll be more careful in the future.
I think Rush should go after the city/county officials that are out to get him. This is getting past ridiculous. he ought to sue or something for harrassment.
What do you think the odds are that ALL they confiscated gets to the evidence room?
It's possible the evidence won't hold up in court.
Will he reject having to PROVE his innocense ?
There's this little concept in our country called innocent until proven guilty. Under our system of laws, the government has to prove guilt, not the other way around.
Rush: Half his brain tied behind his back ....... but, his Johnson propped up.
I agree, steer clear of Austin and Houston for the homestead, (maybe parts of Dallas).
Did anyone else catch NBC show this morning? I think it was Cambell Brown who said something like: "Rush limbaugh jokes about being found with viagra, but the last laugh may be on him". They want him so bad!
TMI!!!
Actually that's not quite correct. Whether you are innocent of a crime
is a matter of fact. Either you committed the crime or you didn't. Even
a "not guilty" verdict in a court of law will not change that historical fact.
The concept you refer to is the legal principle that you are "presumed
innocent until proved guilty.
Example, O.J. was presumed innocent and was found not guilty, but
we all know that he was not innocent of killing his wife and Ron
Goldman
Thank you for the correction. However, my point still stands. The burden falls on the prosecutor to prove guilt. In RS's court of law if you're accused of a crime, you're presumed to be guilty and must prove your innocence.
It's simply a matter of common sense -
If a cop stops me because I have a weapon under my jacket, I show him my concealed carry permit - I don't have him haul me to jail and then hope he figures it out for himself.
In Rush's case all the cops would have to do then is call the name on the label and say " We found your pills - you can come down to the property office and claim them"
Without Rush's permission the doctor CANNOT give out any information regarding the legality of Rush's possesion of them.
Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me
It' s Hard To Be Humble
One Hell Of A Woman
Stop And Smell The Roses
I Believe In Music
Rock And Roll I Gave The Best Years Of My Life
Why the controversy? Because it's Rush Limbaugh, and a Limbaugh arrest is the Liberals' wet dream.
He also said that the authorities didn't believe him when he said that he bought the pills at the Clinton Library. I was lurking on one of the DUmmie threads about Limbaugh, and do you believe they actually thought he was being SERIOUS when he said this? Idiots.
Beavis: He said "stands up"! Heh heh heh heh heh heh
Butthead: Heh heh heh heh heh
The ball is in the Palm Beach Prosecutor's court. They initiated the action against Rush and they spilled the beans to the press to cause him harm.
"They initiated the action against Rush..."
The Palm Beach Prosecutor can get the Federal Customs people to do their bidding now ?
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