Limbaugh lawyer discussing plea bargain

CNN ^ | Dec 22, 2003

[george wythe]

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- As attorneys for Rush Limbaugh went to court Monday to try to keep his medical records out of the hands of Florida prosecutors, there have been negotiations on a possible plea bargain for the conservative talk show host, according to a spokeswoman for his radio network.

[Catspaw]

Limbaugh attorney asks judge to keep medical records private

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Rush Limbaugh was blackmailed by a former maid who later told law enforcement and a tabloid newspaper about his addiction to prescription painkillers, his attorney told a judge on Monday.

Attorney Roy Black said Limbaugh could not complain to authorities about the maid's demand for $4 million because they would use the information against him.

He argued that now prosecutors are attempting to discredit the conservative radio commentator by investigating whether Limbaugh went "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers. Black said prosecutors violated his client's privacy when they seized medical records from his doctors in Florida and California.

But Palm Beach County prosecutors insist they need to review the records, which are sealed, to determine whether Limbaugh's doctors knew about his frequent prescriptions for painkillers, such as OxyContin and hydrocodone.

Assistant State Attorney James Martz said reviewing the records would be the only way to determine if Limbaugh withheld information from his doctors and if he violated the law.

Judge Jeffrey A. Winikoff did not say when he would decide whether the records should be unsealed.

___

December 22, 2003 - 3:16 p.m. CST

[js1138]

I thought these WOD laws were based on the amount of drug seized.

Where did you read about any drugs found in Rush's possession?

[Orangedog]

I wasn't singling you out. Others were on the warpath, though. I never thought he was dealing. But anyone who is busted with that amount of narcotics is routinely charged and tried for intent to distribute, weather or not they ever had any intention of dealing. When people have a habbit and the cash to support it, it's common for them to secure as large a supply as they can to avoid making numerous smaller purchases or having the supply cut.

[Orangedog]

Hence the irony.

[ValerieUSA]

Not giving in to blackmail was an important first step to turning his life around. Once you let that happen, you have truly hit rock bottom.

[al baby]

Bellows said Limbaugh, who recently completed treatment for addiction to prescription painkillers, recognizes that he may have purchased drugs illegally under Florida law and "certainly had more pills than he could ever use

Also if he had more than he could use then i question if he was or is a addict having been one and working in and on recovrey most of us used all of what we had so?

[george wythe]

Already posted on Reply #13

[ValerieUSA]

Rush was busted with a large amount of narcotics on him?
I don't think so..............

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I feel bad for Rush, but he truly is the author of his own misfortune.

Anybody who deals with illegal drugs gets just what they deserve.

[al baby]

As we, liberals everywhere, try to stick it to Rush because of his efforts to conceal his medical records from public view, we must recognize the importance of avoiding any mention of the fact that Willie the Sleaze refused to make his medical records public at any time. Of course, he was most certainly concealing his coke addiction and the many STDs he had picked up (especially some from the coworkers of Danny Williams mom) while in Moscow and while in Little Rock. Willie was running for president, not just talking on the radio. The ultra-left wing media can be relied upon to not mention anything about Willie and what he was hiding, but let's see if we can keep others from mentioning it, as well.



Thank you

[Walkin Man]

Bellows said Limbaugh, who recently completed treatment for addiction to prescription painkillers, recognizes that he may have purchased drugs illegally under Florida law and "certainly had more pills than he could ever use".

[ConservativeMan55]

Bump for Truth and Justice!!!

[ConservativeMan55]

Who said anything about dealing illegal drugs?

[cpst12]

>>Usually, you don't start discussing a plea bargain until a charge has actually been filed.

I'd say there is something in his records he doesn't want out in public; nobody tries to plea bargain before charges are filed. Obviously there is more to the story.

[jimbo123]

Going to serious rehab was a good second step. Now he needs to pay his debt to society. He should get a plea bargain. He's already done his rehab deal. He should be forced to pay a fine and perform community service and let him move on with his life. And the woman who blackmailed him should be sent away for a long time.

[ConservativeMan55]

So now I guess the government is going to go house to house so that they can decide if I have more pills than I can use.

Who makes that decision anyways? It certainly shouldn't be the government.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

In the sense that Rush was dealing with them, they were illegal.

[ConservativeMan55]

Who said Rush was dealing them?

[Cicero]

Let's get real. This is a bunch of gossip and speculation from CNN, who would love to get rid of a major competitor.

The prosecutor is a left-wing, opportunistic politician. It's possible that Rush's lawyer wants to settle the matter just to get it over with, since it could continue harrassing Rush for a long time, regardless of the outcome. It's unlikely that the prosecutor could win a conviction.

[Orangedog]

Rush was busted with a large amount of narcotics on him? I don't think so..............

Never said he was. The spokesman from his network has already acknowledged that he had them in large quantities.