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 think Rush set these fools up with this one.
Pure genius, if true. "
Really great idea ... Gee, the whole thing just helped him out SO much ...
He gets to pay his lawyer a whole bunch more money, the media gets to splash the "Limbaugh caught with drugs" again, and the comedians and Dems get more ammo to throw at him.
Pure Genius indeed ...
( Scheech - somehow I'm missing the UP side to it )
"If it lasts longer than 4 hours, seek medical attention...."
If it lasts 4 hours, both the man AND the woman should seek medical attention......to wipe the smile off their faces!
A pass on what ? Taking Viagra ? Who cares, it's none of my business.
Bill Clinton called offering to help dispose of them
So then what's the problem?
From this retired pharmaceutical sales rep you get a big BINGO!
I'd be ashamed to be connected with the Customs Service in a sting operation like this. Reminds me of the TSA nail clipper copper caper in Cleveland after 911.
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Well, if Rush had a bottle of 1000 Viagra, I could see the Customs Service doing a bit of investigating. But if this was the typical #12 tablet prescription, and it was in MY luggage, or say, Senator Kerry's, or Bill Clinton's, or literally any other American, do you think the Customs Service would refer it to a prosecutor? Um, no, I don't think so.
Law Enforcement guys will be the first to tell you that they don't prosecute EVERY violation of the law, and I'll bet you won't find 1 in 1000 would consider prosecuting someone for having viagra on their person. (Compare Rush's treatment with Congressman Kennedy's recent scrape with the law.)
So, what we have is another Demorat in government uniform, using his authority and badge to pursue a private, partisan, political agenda. He knew who Rush is, and he knows the consequences of Rush being accused, let alone convicted of another drug offense. So, he felt he HAD to refer Rush's indiscretion, and probably, put a call into the local news media as well.
SFS
"Nurse!,Nurse!"
Funny how Rush has been pushing Hot Dogs. grrr, couldn't resist.
Exactly how many other Viagra busts can you direct me to?
1. I would get my lawyers together and begin harassing lawsuits against everyone, and I do mean everyone, remotely connected with this petty harassment. Rush makes millions a year. A couple of those millions, properly spent, could make his enemies wish they had never thought harassing him was a good idea. He doesn't have to win any legal battles. He just needs to make his persecutors dance, defend themselved against his legal counter-attacks, and spend themselves and their companys into bankruptcy!
2. I would move to a location that would appreciate having a multi-millionaire in their community. His sales taxes on consumer goods alone would probably make the idiots who think its good sport to persecute him pee their pants. Move, take your income and the resulting taxes you currently pay to another community where it (and you) would be appreciated, and let West Palm Beach and the world know what they have pissed away!
But then, I'm vindictive as hell! Rush would never do any of these things.
(Relative) youth....
Mack Davis wrote and sang the song O Lord it's hard to be humble
Regarding the possibility that Rush is diabetic, you have made some VERY good points. I don't know whether he is or not, but my husband is and he lost about 100 pounds before he finally went to the doctor and got the diagnosis. He has adopted a total lifestyle change and is a model diabetic.
1. There's a joke about the definition of torque in there somewhere.
2.Don't drink so much before going to bed.
That's what she said.
< /vaguely off-color non-sequitur >
Nope. Don't know why I know this...but I'm pretty sure that would be BJ Thomas.
OK, ignore me. I'm wrong.
That's what I get for being so sure of myself I didn't look it up. I had a teacher that used that song as an example of how terrible the world had become. She said it was BJ Thomas. She was a bit obsessed with the whole thing.
I'm going to have to reevaluate ALL my education now. LOL.
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