They had a lot of detail. For example, they knew it was over prescription drugs. The civilian employee would have had to be very closeby.
If all the TV station had was that "Rush Limbaugh was detained at airport. More at 11." I would be more inclined to follow your line of thinking.
Might have been released by U.S. Customs, etc. after reporters began calling.
The whole thing is "celebrityworld" where not very much makes sense.