Posted on 12/04/2003 11:43:07 AM PST by kattracks
Investigators with the Florida state attorney's office have seized the medical records of America's No. 1 talk radio host, Rush Limbaugh, in connection with a probe into a Florida drug ring.In a statement read by Limbaugh to his audience near the end of the first hour of his broadcast today, the leading conservative said his attorney Roy Black had released the following statement moments earlier:
"We have been informed that this afternoon the Palm Beach state attorney's office will announce that it has seized the medical records of four doctors who treated me for serious medical conditions and the pain resulting from them.
"In fact, what these records will show is that I suffered pain and had legitimate reasons for taking pain medication.
"Unfortunately, because of Mr. Limbaugh's prominence and well-known political opinions, he has been subjected to an invasion of privacy that no citizen of this republic should endure.
"Let us make our position clear: Rush Limbaugh is not part of a drug ring. He was never a target of a drug investigation. He became addicted to a prescription drug during legitimate medical treatment. He has publicly admitted the problem, has successfully sought treatment, which continues to this day."
Black concluded:
"We will not speculate on why the state attorney's office is handling Mr. Limbaugh's case the way it is. What should be a responsible investigation is looking more and more like a fishing expedition."
Don't worry, this will make the news.
Wouldn't the Florida State Attorney's office be GOP? Or is the office organized at a local level so that this section is Democratic?
Limbaugh says agents seized his medical records in drug probe
Limbaugh, reading from a statement prepared by his attorney, denied any wrongdoing and accused prosecutors of going on a "fishing expedition." The conservative commentator said the medical records will clear him.
Limbaugh was absent from his show for five weeks recently while spending time at a drug rehabilitation program because of his addiction to prescription painkillers.
Previously, law enforcement sources in Palm Beach County, where Limbaugh owns a $24 million oceanfront mansion, confirmed that a criminal investigation into a prescription drug ring involved Limbaugh. His former maid, Wilma Cline, reported supplying him with OxyContin and other painkillers.
Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the state attorney's office, declined comment.
The Liberal Media has already convicted Rush Limbaugh...
If Rush were a liberal personality...they wouldn't touch him, but he's not...so therefore..
The Liberal Media has already convicted Rush Limbaugh...
If Rush were a liberal personality...they wouldn't touch him, but he's not...so therefore..
I experienced a little incident in Vietnam that put me in the hospital for 14 months and eleven surgeries. During this time they ( the medical staff) saw fit to give us guys in a lot of plaster SECONOL (sp) around 10pm each night. I had no idea what SECONOL was nor what it did. I only knew I was getting some sleep at night.
This continued all through the 14 months and upon discharge was given a prescription for additional SECONOL, upon leaving the dispensary I had a jar of red pills the size of a mayonnaise jar. I continued to use this drug, except I wasnt taking one each night, by now I was taking 4-5 a day, and not even thinking about nodding off. This continued through about an additional 6 months till a new doctor refused to write a new script......I replaced the Reds with Vodka.....It was a very low time in my life. I realized what was happening to me a attempted to straighten myself out, I had many ups and downs and it wasnt till I met a wonderful gal who is my current wife did I have the caring and support to kick it altogether. That was 35 years ago.
I had no intentions of getting hooked on boose and pills, it just happened.
I have walked in those moccasins, so Im not going to rush to judgment on Rush .
I believe the state attorney in that county is still a member of the New York bar.
After 2000, I've thought of Palm Beach County as a very calm and mature place. *g*
Barry Krischer was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Palm Beach County in 1973. He was a former Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, New York and joined the State Attorneys Office upon his relocation to Florida. After a stint in private practice, he successfully ran for State Attorney in 1992 and again in 1996. He ran unopposed in the 2000 elections. Mr. Krischer attended Brooklyn College University of New York, and received his Law degree from Brooklyn Law School.
Mr. Krischer is an instructor at the Palm Beach Community College Police Academy. He has received the pro bono award presented by the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County for service to the juvenile justice system for his work with the Child Protection Team. He is a member of the New York Bar, Colorado Bar, Palm Beach County Bar Association, and the Florida Bar, Criminal Law Section
Of course, there's no one in New York that would have it in for Rush.....is there?
Another fact conveniently left out is that (I think) these drugs most likely do not effect the person in the same way as, say crystal meth, cocain, heroine, speed, etc. Moreover, there is a large difference between someone who has the ability to use drugs (even if addicted) and continue to uphold his/her responsibilities, continue to work and earn money, and pay for the drugs used vs. someone who is not responsible, does not work, and steals for the drugs. The article's author assumes that if drugs were legal, street addicts would suddenly become responsible citizen, who earn money and pay their way. Of course, this assumption defies logic.
for instance, even with drugs currently illegal, there are plenty of otherwise law-abiding individuals who occasionally use pot or cocaine, but keep jobs and uphold there responsibilities, even without being rich (I am not making a comment on the correctness of this, just noting it). To attempt to equate someone who abuses a prescription drug -without robbing or committing violence, with someone who deals cocaine on the street is a stretch. With that said, I am not a fan of the way the war on drugs is being fought or the mandatory sentencing guidelines.
Why does being liberal mean not having common sense?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.