Dem Probers Eye Rush's Medical File Despite Agreement[Fr mentioned]

tp://www.newsmax.com ^ | Thursday Dec. 25, 2003; 2:23 p.m. EST

[luv2ndamend]

A Democratic Party prosecutor ordered the review of confidential medical records seized from doctors treating number one talk radio host Rush Limbaugh - despite an agreement by his deputy not to do so at a Florida court hearing Monday.

The brazen legal move has Limbaugh's supporters worrying that his medical secrets may now be in the hands of senior Democratic Party operatives working for New York Senator Hillary Clinton and other top Democrats.

During Monday's hearing, Limbaugh's attorney Roy Black asked the court to stay an expected decision granting permission to review the medical data until an appeal could be filed.

During the following exchange among Black, Assistant State's Attorney James Martz and Judge Jeffrey A. Winkoff, Martz indicated that he didn't object to the bid to keep the records under seal pending the judge's ruling.

"I honestly think it's in the purview of the Court to make that decision," replied the Florida prosecutor. "I don't think I have an argument on that."

Despite Martz's apparent agreement that the records would stay sealed until Judge Winkoff ruled, Limbaugh's records were allegedly opened and reviewed on orders from Martz's boss, State's Attorney Barry Krischer, the top talk host charged on Wednesday.

"The state advised my lawyer later in the day, [Monday] that, Barry Krischer, who is the elected state attorney down here, told his investigators to go ahead and open my medical records, despite the requests from my lawyers and the consideration of a stay by the judge. . .

"They couldn't wait; they had to open them," Limbaugh complained. "The state's attorney, Barry Krischer, personally ordered it from what we're told and his investigators began rifling through my medical records."

Contacted by the Palm Beach Post on Wednesday, State Attorney Krischer refused to deny the allegation.

The move shocked the top talk host's fans. Writing on the conservative Web site FreeRepublic.com, one listener worried: "The contents of Limbaugh's medical records are undoubtedly already in Hillary's database."

Kischer is a Democrat who strongly backed Attorney General Janet Reno after she was selected for the job by Mrs. Clinton.

Krischer's decision to press the case against Limbaugh so aggressively drew criticism from one particularly unlikely source.

"There is something odd about the way this case is playing out, the kind of crimes that are being investigated," complained former White House counsel Lanny Davis to MSNBC on Monday. "And it does really look like his celebrityhood . . . has attracted unfair attention."

While Davis disagreed with the notion that Limbaugh was the victim of a Democratic Party witch-hunt, he observed, "It doesn't look like, at the moment, they have a real serious case that smacks of criminal conduct."

"This is about prosecutors leaking to the press. That's wrong. And I agree with Limbaugh on that," he said.

Find out the real story about Rush in NewsMax's special report, "Rush Is Back"

[RS]

"If they could have proved the pill "from the street" we would not be having this thread."

... and you seriously think that this is the only avenue of investigation that is open ?
The only reason this is open at all is that the Enquirer broke the story...

[RS]

"There is no "window" for 3rd party distribution."

...except for Mr. Black - with his clients permission he can send parts in an unmarked plain brown wrapper to the Enquirer....or post them on FR !

[SierraWasp]

"... and on a personal note, this is much more entertaining then hearing him talk about golf..."

Is that why you and other Libertarian posters seem to me to be so intently vehement and venomous and almost as eager as Hitlery to see him succumb to this malicious and vicious prosecution, unprecedented in it's nature? Because he talked about GOLF?

Judas Priest! I've never seen such a relentless erection on anyone over an allegation!!! Especially on FR!!! Are you envious of his success? Or what???

I hope you'll correct me if I'm mistaken, or have somehow misunderstood your feverish replies on this thread and others, but it sounds to me like nothing would bring you more orgasmic joy than to see the man crucified, literally and figuratively!!!

[tubebender]

Good evening FRiend and Merry Christmas...

[SierraWasp]

Thank you tubebender and I hope Santa treated you well this year.

[L.N. Smithee]

With all the smut in the Democratic Party, we are supposed to be worried about files on Rush Limbaugh. Give me a break.

Don't laugh this off. Rush's importance to the right-of-center can't be underestimated.

[E.G.C.]

Bump in support of Rush.

[Common Tator]

There was evidence presented that Limbaugh consulted 4 doctors. Two of which are in the same practice and the third was an on call doctor that saw the first practices patients when the other two doctors were not available.

In otherwords three of the four doctors were working for the same practie and the same patient list.

That can not be doctor shopping.

The firm that is I go to for general practice medicine has four doctors. Over the last few years I have seen three of those doctors. In the first week of December of this year I got the flu. I called my doctor's office. The receptionist said my doctor was booked,but she could get me in to see one of the other doctors in the firm. I said Ok. That was not doctor shopping.

The fourth doctor Limbaugh saw was the Doctor in California that did the operation on Limbaugh's ear.

That was the testimoney in court this week. There is no way they could make a case that Limbaugh was doctor shopping

If they had a case on Limbaugh they would have not leaked to the tabloid press. They would have arrested him in the middle of his show.

[RS]

... and on the other had I am amazed that because it is someone is on the conservative side, he can do no evil... that every word from him and his lawyers mouths are as pure as the driven snow - EVEN when they ADMIT criminal activity it is simly brushed aside !

I am using the same logic and reason I have used in the OJ, the Westerfield and Clinton trials.

... and Rush appears to be using the same defence tactics as they used.

Like the Senate Democrats - many of Rushs supporter simply refuse to look at the evidence available - they close their mind to the logical progression of events that must have taken place for the FACTS to have occurred.

I fear Rush's attack posture, on what should be a relatively trivial offence, may be showing us there are many more important issues that will be revealed.

[RS]

"That was the testimoney in court this week. There is no way they could make a case that Limbaugh was doctor shopping

If they had a case on Limbaugh they would have not leaked to the tabloid press."

The testimony in court was simply a restatement of the Application for the Search Warrents, where a Judge found sufficient probable cause to allow the warrents to be issued.
As stated in the application, it was NOT a complete listing of the facts known so far, nor need it be. They were not trying to make a case - this was not a trial.
Based on those facts the Judge this week also agreed, and did not order the search warrents quashed and the records returned.

It appears that the Clines had sold the story to the Tabloids.

[blackie]

Rush Will Persevere!

[Trust but Verify]

But if he got them on the black market he deserves whatever he gets.

Too bad that's not what they're trying to charge him with.....

[RS]

"But if he got them on the black market he deserves whatever he gets.
Too bad that's not what they're trying to charge him with....."

Do you seriously believe that they only have a single avenue of investigation on this ?
I'm sure Rush and his Lawyers don't believe that...

[4Liberty]

"In other words... 'I hope they lock him up so I don't have to listen to him insult my party any longer.' "

Oh, no - I insist he continue broadcasting. I don't see why he can't broadcast from jail.

Inconsistent Conservatives are the limited-government advocate's best friend.

When they twist themselves into pretzels in an attempt to "make sense" in their support arbitrary gov. regulations of personal conduct - they come across as the dreaded "Moderates" Rush loves to bash.

Let em talk.

At least with the Central Planning Board/Nanny state Dems, you KNOW where they are coming from. There is no pretense, there, of a respect for individual freedom or for private propery rights.

[Reagan Man]

You're preaching to the choir.

The authorities started out calling this a case of drug trafficking. When that didn't stick, they labeled it a case of money laundering. Now they're calling it a case of doctor shopping. What's next? Even Lanny Davis knows the case against Rush is bogus.

In the end, it may be proven that Rush broke some aspect of the law, but at this point I don't know what that would be. For now, this entire effort is nothing more then a political fishing expedition undertaken by the liberal establishment. Rush has soundly beaten his leftwing opposition in the arena of ideas for the last 15 years. They haven't laid a glove on him. This is nothing more then an obvious attempt to smear Rush. So far, it hasn't worked and I doubt it ever will.

[TheOtherOne]

This is nothing more then an obvious attempt to smear Rush

Why did he go to rehab again? It may be that, it may also be based in fact.

[Reagan Man]

What you said makes no sense at all.

Rush taking a third shot at drug rehab, has nothing to do with smear tactics from the anti-Rush crowd.

[Terpfen]

Oh, no - I insist he continue broadcasting. I don't see why he can't broadcast from jail. Inconsistent Conservatives are the limited-government advocate's best friend.

If I'm reading this right, you're calling the man a hypocrite. In which case, you know him less than you think you do.

[TheOtherOne]

It is just a pretty good indication he was on illegal drugs and probably committed a crime.

[Reagan Man]

There is no indication of any illegal activity by Rush and he hasn't been charged with any crime either. This entire situation will be settled within the parameters of the law and not in the court of public opinion.