Posted on 10/04/2003 1:42:29 AM PDT by Walkin Man
Saturday, October 4
Limbaugh won't be prosecuted, attorneys wager
By John Pacenti, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Saturday, October 4, 2003
WEST PALM BEACH -- Rush Limbaugh's alleged addiction to painkillers may be documented in e-mails.
His reported drug deals may have been taped by his former housekeeper.
And the talkative maid and her handyman husband could even be willing to testify against the conservative talk-show host. They sure were willing to spill everything to a supermarket tabloid.
But the chance of criminal charges ever being filed against Limbaugh is next to nil, say criminal defense attorneys who have handled numerous drug cases.
And some local lawyers say they are hearing from sources within State Attorney Barry Krischer's office that Limbaugh -- who lives in a $24 million mansion on Palm Beach -- will indeed not be charged.
Sources also said Limbaugh won't even be questioned by law enforcement officials, unless the commentator chooses to cooperate on his own.
Roy Black is the Miami powerhouse attorney Limbaugh has reportedly hired to represent him. But Black, who has represented such celebrities as Marv Albert and William Kennedy Smith, won't return calls to confirm he has been retained. And Limbaugh said on his radio show Friday he wasn't at liberty to address the allegations.
James Martz, the prosecutor who heads up a task force on money-laundering, said he is more interested in finding the heads of such distribution cells as opposed to prosecuting low-level drug users -- whether they are celebrities or not.
Plus, to prosecute drug abusers, authorities need to catch them in possession of the illegal substance, he said. "Shy of that, we have very little leverage in the state system," Martz said.
What it all comes down to, attorneys say, is that the court of public opinion is a far cry from the court of law.
"I think that the state better have a heck of a lot more than what I'm seeing, hearing and reading right now," attorney Michael Salnick said. "First of all you have a major credibility issue with these witnesses. The credibility issue starts with the fact they sold their story to The National Enquirer."
The former maid, Wilma Cline, and her husband, David Cline, told The Enquirer for its latest edition that Limbaugh bulldogged them into supplying him with thousands of painkillers between 1998 and 2002. They said Limbaugh took hydrocodone, Lorcet and OxyContin.
The story came out on the heels of Limbaugh resigning from his job as an ESPN sports analyst after he said Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted a black quarterback to succeed.
Maid said she taped transactions
It is unknown if the timing was coincidental, but The Enquirer's story is full of juicy details. According to the piece, it all started when Limbaugh asked for some extra pain pills from David Cline's legitimate prescription for a back injury.
Soon, Limbaugh demanded that they continue to supply him with pills when the prescription ran out. That's when Wilma Cline started keeping a log of her deliveries and preserved desperate e-mails from Limbaugh in which he referred to pills as "small blue babies."
Wilma Cline said she would meet Limbaugh in parking lots, passing a cigar box filled with pills through his Mercedes' window.
During her two last drug deliveries, Wilma Cline told The Enquirer, she secretly audiotaped the transactions.
Late last year, the Clines went to prosectors, who gave them immunity. Sources say the couple helped prosecutors in their investigation into tracking some 450,000 pills of hydrocodone back to the source.
Authorities believe some of Limbaugh's supply was dispensed from a small suburban Lake Worth pharmacy, World Health Association. The couple that ran the operation, Gloria and Louis Beshara, were arrested in May, seven months after the Clines came forward. The Besharas currently face trafficking charges.
Also, what could undermine the Clines' credibility is that David Cline has a criminal history.
He was arrested in 1982 in Collier County for cocaine trafficking, serving five years in prison. In 2000, he was arrested on charges of identity theft -- using the name George Earl Taylor -- of possessing a fake driver license and fake vehicle registration, as well as possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. He served 18 months probation.
It is unknown if the couple received full immunity from prosecutors for information they gave about how they provided pills for Limbaugh.
If Wilma Cline did tape Limbaugh without his knowledge, that is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, attorneys say.
Plus, Martz said such tapings can't even be heard by prosecutors. As for e-mail evidence, Martz said any such evidence is problematic because there is trouble verifying who sent the e-mail.
So where does this leave Limbaugh's criminal liability?
"I think it's legal suicide to go after a guy like Limbaugh with evidence as flimsy as this," Salnick said.
Two former prosecutors, now in private practice, agree.
Robert Gershman said most of the time, users are prosecuted only for possession. He said the Clines probably wouldn't have even gotten in the door of the state attorney's office if they weren't outing a celebrity.
Marc Shiner said the celebrity issue taints the case. "Why would drug dealers turn in their client unless they are trying to save their own neck -- or trying to make a couple hundred thousand dollars peddling their story to the tabloids?" he asked.
"If I was Roy Black, I'd be sitting on the beach right now sipping a pina colada or watching a Marlins game and not worrying too much about Rush Limbaugh's criminal liability right now."
At least the press has found the word "alleged" again.
Agreed. The rich and powerful don't have to worry about laws.
No, I think they have better things to do than worry about someones elses habit. I can tell you that getting hooked on prescription pain killers is a very bad problem in this country, I know, my ex-wife had a problem and it took 3 years and six figures to get her clean. She never bought drugs black market but I can tell you that doctors and pharmacists both contribute to the problem.
So...before you start flaming people about "using" drugs you might want to look over your shoulder, it could easily happen to you or someone you know.
This is a little strange. If she worked for him, why not just have her bring it into the house? Why take the chance of getting caught outside, at a gas station??? Very strange.
I am aware of that. I wouldn't expect him to drop off of the air waves though.
You aren't from Southwest Indiana, are you? I use to know a girl that called herself Weegee, from there.
I don't recall if, she did or not. I know they have been sued for libel many times and lost. I hope he owns the joint when this is over.
You know, I've been thinking about this 90-pills-a-day business. With the Dittocam, people WATCH Rush for up to three solid hours (sometimes longer), including commercials, 5 days a week. And of course, his staff in the studio sees him for longer than that. If he can go for that long without popping any pills & his performance is not noticably affected, then how many pills a day could he really have been taking?
Because he is one of those self righteous so called Christians who never practice their faith. If he did he wouldnt be so judgemental, especially before the facts are known. Until the Democrats went far left on social issues in the 60's and 70's, this kind of idiot would have been a Democrat.
I agree with you. Let me re-phrase that.
The attorney for the accuser is formerly a Democratic Fund Raiser. This makes this claim against Rush appear to be connected to the DNC. This is my opinion due to past actions by the DNC to destroy their opponents.
Rush has railed against drug users and said that they all should be thrown in jail. He has railed against trail lawyers as well. Now he has hired a famous trail lawyer to defend himself against drug abuse charges.
You see nothing to talk about, I see rank hypocrisy from the man with "talent on loan from God."
Well from your two comments about "Rush Limbaugh Worship Center" and "talent on loan from God" it seems to me that you have a religious jealousy problem with Rush more than anything else. Sounds like you are jealous that your fellow freepers worship Rush more than God.
I listen to Rush at least three times a week and I've never heard him "rail against drug users." As far as him railing against trial lawyers, get an education, the trial lawyers that Rush is talking about are those filing class action suits on tobacco, silicone implants, fast food etc. Its those people like the Senator from NC who get rich inventing court cases to try in civil court not criminal defense lawyers.
Prove where he has ever done that. (3:16 For God so loved the world he created Rush.)
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