Case Against Limbaugh Called Weak

NewsMax.com ^ | 10/04/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Despite screaming front page headlines and top-of-the-hour news reports suggesting that Rush Limbaugh is in legal hot water over allegations that he abused painkillers over a four year period, prosecutors and attorneys said Saturday that any actual criminal case against the top talk star would be weak.

James Martz, the prosecutor who heads up the Palm Beach County, Florida task force investigating the Limbaugh case noted that police never actually caught the talk star purchasing any drugs. "Shy of that, we have very little leverage in the state system," he told the Palm Beach Post.

Martz said he is more interested in finding the heads of drug distribution cells rather than going after alleged low-level prescription drug users like Limbaugh.

Florida attorney Michael Salnick agreed that the case is weak, telling the Post, "I think that the state better have a heck of a lot more than what I'm seeing, hearing and reading right now."

"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 attorney said.

"I think it's legal suicide to go after a guy like Limbaugh with evidence as flimsy as this," Salnick added.

Another problem is that one of Limbaugh's accusers, David Cline, was convicted himself on cocaine trafficking charges in 1982.

What about the wire worn by Cline's wife Wilma, Limbaugh's housekeeper who told the Enquirer that she taped their last two drug transactions?

Apparently the recording is more legally problematic for the Clines than it is for Limbaugh. Attorneys told the Post that if Mrs. Cline did tape Limbaugh without his knowledge, she committed a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

What more, prosecutor Martz said such an illegally obtained recording would be inadmissible in court.

How about the emails supplied by Cline that purportedly document Limbaugh's drug deals?

Martz told the Post that any such evidence is of little value because it's difficult to actually verify who sent the email.

Further weakening any possible prosecution is the issue of Limbaugh's celebrity, which Florida attorney Marc Shiner said complicates 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," Shiner added, referring to the lawyer Limbaugh has reportedly hired, "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."

[judywillow]

I think it should be job 1 for us to find the woman that Hillary raped or sexually abused and make sure the public is alerted.

I doubt HC has ever raped anybody outright. That's not the issue. HC realized early on that in Slick she had a guy who was massively photogenic, a brilliant speaker with a photographic memory who was definitely presidential material IF she could keep the lid down on the little problems. So there was a lid committee in place for 30 years consisting of Lenszner and several other PI organizations, and the only person would could possibly have kept that lid committee together that long was HC. HC is personally responsible for several dozen women being sexually assaulted and raped.

[Savage Beast]

"The left has made the most out of an attempt to turn off his mike. They badly underestimated Mr.Limbaugh and the support of his loyal listeners.The criminal case is not as important to the left as is the character assassination."

The Left's biggest mistake is to underestimate the power of truth.

[Savage Beast]

The Left's biggest mistake is to underestimate the power of truth.

[jammer]

Before we use the term "character assassination", let's wait and see what Rush has to say. It COULD be "character suicide." You don't want to believe it; I don't want to believe it. But, as yet and with the absence of a denial by him, it is possible.

[G.Mason]

"alleged low-level prescription drug users like Limbaugh"

There are a few here, calling themselves conservative Americans, who need to read and understand.

Perhaps, shortly, that list of nay sayers will be worthy of being published here on Freeper Land for all to see.

Those of us who begged for a wait see attitude, may have been right.

Then of course there are those that " feel" Rush was, and is guilty, no matter what.

When the truth comes out, let the cleansing begin.

[VRWC_minion]

You obviously need a reading comprehension course or go into rehab.

[jammer]

"There's something about ex-con drug dealers ..."

Yep. These plea bargains are nothing but suborning perjury on the part of prosecutors.

[Stars N Stripes]

We laugh at you!!!

All your scandals are belong to us!!

[jbstrick]

Slings, that was too funny LOL

[Former Proud Canadian]

Rush's biggest mistake in this fiasco is hiring a loser for a maid and letting her get too close. Memo to Rush: do a better job vetting the hired help.

[Ramcat]

"the court of public opinion is what the NE was aiming at."

My opinion is that the court of public opinion is of the opinion that we're all too opinionated.

[Humidston]

I LOVE your tagline!! ;-)

[WackyKat]

There's something about ex-con drug dealers that causes me not to trust them. I don't know, maybe it's because THEY'RE EVIL CRIMINALS!!!!!!

A news flash for you-all drug dealers are criminals.

That doesn't mean they don't have customers;obviously they do.

I would have a much easier time believing in Rush's innocence if he would simply say "I have never illegally bought or possessed prescription narcotics."

What's so hard about that?

I thought Rush believed in truth and openess- or does that only apply to others?

[Ferret Fawcet]

You tell 'em. GO RUSH!

[G.Mason]

"Rush's biggest mistake in this fiasco is hiring a loser for a maid and letting her get too close. Memo to Rush: do a better job vetting the hired help."

I called Rush about this and he said he tried to hire a wealthy Jewish woman to do his house work, but the agency said they were fresh out.

[TalBlack]

This article reads like it is just another hammer blow in the attempt to knock out Rush Limbaugh.

It manages to imply that though the evidence is scant Limbaugh did it, rather than that there is no indication that Limbaugh is guilty of anything. It could just as easily do the latter since no one has characterized ANY evidince that would tend to lean toward the former.

[yankeedame]

Yes, the court case is weak. However, the court of public opinion is what the NE was aiming at.

Amen! And in court of public opinion - thanks to those who would keep the kettle well stirred - the defense is never allowed to rest.

[ShandaLear]

The slimers have made their mark? I highly doubt this. I think once this blows over nothing will have changed. The people who support Rush will continue to support him and those who don't won't. If the Libs can support bloated load mouth lying alcoholics and former Klansmen, I have no problem supporting a perscription drug addict...especially one who makes a career of getting under the skin of rabid liberals.

[G.Mason]

" I would have a much easier time believing in Rush's innocence if he would simply say "I have never illegally bought or possessed prescription narcotics."

" What's so hard about that?"

What's so hard about this ....... "I have never had sexual relations with that woman ....... Monica Lewinsky".

Ring a (((((((( bell ))))))) ?

Are you a maroon?

[what's up]

Liberals are desperate. They see their machine built up over the last decades crumbling under a new conservative upswing.

It ain't gonna work. Conservativism is a rising tide.