Limbaugh Takes Off Gloves: Blasts Coverage, Investigation of Drugs

The Rush Limbaugh Show via The Drudge Report ^ | December 23, 2003 | Rush Limbaugh

[thegreatbeast]

Ladies and gentlemen, you know, it's been real frustrating here for the past - what has this been? - past three months. It has been very frustrating to sit here and see what gets released and then reported in the media and to have to remain silent about it for a number of reasons. The occasion for silence is now ended because of the medical records hearing that occurred yesterday here in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Now, the judge ruled against me on the privacy of my medical records despite the fact that we claim that the prosecution in this case did not follow the law as written by the Florida legislature in securing those medical records.

[thegreatbeast]

Limbaugh better learn to accept the situation because it's going to be with him like Tyson's facial tattoo. Seriously, did he expect anything different?

[jagrmeister]

No, it's not a matter of accepting the situation. This is a gross abuse of power by the prosecutor's office, who is a Clinton appointee. The leaks by the prosecutor's office are a blatant violation of privacy. The charges are trumped up- it's a ridiculous political witch-hunt. Conservatives should get organized and put pressure on these jackals to drop this charade.

[Dane]

The vast majority of first time non-violent non-trafficker(seller) offenders in Florida, IIRC, usually get probation if they go through treatment. Rush fits all those criteria. This is a witch hunt by the Palm Beach county prosecutor.

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

The prosecutor is an elected State's Attorney, not a Clinton appointee. He ran unopposed in 2000.

[Prime Choice]

[Chani]

His enemies have been after him for years. It's unfortunate that he has given them an opening to try and go in for a kill. I'll be interested to see what the whole truth of the situation turns out to be. I hope Daniel can survive the lions.

[Dane]

The prosecutor is an elected State's Attorney, not a Clinton appointee. He ran unopposed in 2000

Elected in Palm Beach County and he is a demo and is part of the demo machine down there.

[Clock King]

Is the judge (who found the charges to be "good faith") a Demo as well? Just wondering. I agree this is a witch hunt.

[HiTech RedNeck]

in Palm Beach County Circuit Court Ringling, Barnum, and Bailey 3-Ring Media Circus tent

[leadpenny]

This is a gross abuse of power by the prosecutor's office, who is a Clinton appointee.
The leaks by the prosecutor's office are a blatant violation of privacy.
The charges are trumped up- it's a ridiculous political witch-hunt.

How do you know all this?

Conservatives should get organized and put pressure on these jackals to drop this charade.

Conservatives (and everyone) should wait to see what happens. Rush has a lawyer and his microphone. We have the judicial system.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If they've tromped on Rush's Federal civil rights there will eventually be hell to pay by PBC. If it's only state civil rights he's at the mercy of the SCOFLAws.

[tbpiper]

The prosecutor is an elected State's Attorney, not a Clinton appointee. He ran unopposed in 2000.

Ran unopposed in Palm Beach County. Home of the 2000 butterfly ballot. You do remember that little demo setup don't you. And the prosecuter is, at this moment, still a member of the New York bar. And we all know there is no one in New York that has it 'in' for Rush.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

We have the judicial system.

Who is [We] ?

[Tall_Texan]

The charges are trumped up.

I disagree. First of all, he still has not officially been charged with anything. Secondly, he's already admitted to culpability in a crime, if not the actual commision of it.

I didn't like the "raid" on the doctors offices, nor the seizure of records (did they think the doctors would not cooperate voluntarily?), nor some of the misrepresentations I've seen in the media.

But if you clean that all away, there still seems to be some fire behind the smoke. I guess the maid doesn't come across as a credible enough witness so they're looking for something more to back their case.

Disagree with the law if you will and lament that Rush fell into the trap of addiction and the purchase of black-market drugs if you wish, but a crime is still a crime. Even in Palm Beach County, they still have to have a trial before a conviction. Only then, will the air be cleared and everyone can make up their own minds.

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

Don't know, but he was unopposed too. He was a securities lawyer.

[leadpenny]

We! Americans! US Citizens!

[HiTech RedNeck]

To believe Rush got the sheer QUANTITY of pills he got by "shopping doctors" (what I think they mean behind all the obfuscation is getting overlapping prescriptions, which is the only actual no-no in the law; Rush is NOT at fault if an individual doctor chooses to overprescribe) would be even more zany than to believe he got it through his maid.

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

That may be, but he still isn't a Clinton appointee and people ought not to say that about him when it isn't true. Looks like crybaby stuff to me.

Krischer is also the guy who decided to try Nathaniel Brazill as an adult.

[Victoria_R]

Conservatives (and everyone) should wait to see what happens. Rush has a lawyer and his microphone. We have the judicial system.

The judicial system sure was lame in "conversative" Idaho when I got my medical records misused by the state. No one (Board of Medicine, ACLU, EEOC, etc.) cared about a peon citizen's right to privacy. The abusers just pointed to a paragraph in the laws stating your privacy with regards to medical records goes out the window if it's "a public safety matter".

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

LOL! He's also a member of the Colorado Bar. So what? Lots of lawyers are members of multiple state Bars.

He's still not a Clinton appointee and it's silly to go around saying he is.

What someone ought to be doing is researching the public records to determine just exactly how many previous times Krischer investigated and prosecuted anyone for doctor-shopping. Convictions are public record. If the defendant went into a pre-trial program and completed it successfully, it might not be in the public record, but otherwise it's public record.

[HiTech RedNeck]

OK so it was Chiles, not Clinton. Same breed of animal, different zoo.

[HiTech RedNeck]

What someone ought to be doing is researching the public records to determine just exactly how many previous times Krischer investigated and prosecuted anyone for doctor-shopping.

Breaking the subjects down also by avocation (liberal media darling superstar?) and party (demonRat?)

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

So under the same law of right to privacy upon snatching his medical files its the same law that is their trying to use to kill Terry Schindler Sheivo see there saying terry wanted to die if she was ever in the position she is in was to happen and their trying to us her right to privacy to kill her .

They should be able to keep his medical records or secure them without a court order ? they broke their own laws and are going to try and prosecute him on that same broken law

So no we don't have the system the bureaucrats have it the politicians have it and the judges are writing laws to amend other laws which now a days means BREAK the law in order to prosecute.

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

The law in Florida is that you are required to inform any physician that you have been prescribed similiar drugs in the last 30 days by another physician. That's what they are looking for in the records -- whether he told the physicians about prescriptions from other physicians.

The problem for Krischer is that doctors notoriously don't write everything down. I don't know if there were any forms that may have been filled out by Limbaugh that would have asked this question. I've never seen such a form in Jacksonville, so I don't think it's a state requirement.

[itsinthebag]

Did anyone listen to Sean Hannity's radio program yesterday? Hosting for Sean was Curtis (angel guy). He had Mark Levin on who said it has not been picked up by any major news media the fact that this charge of doctor shopping is bogus. The prosecutor apparently is looking at 4 doctors. Get this: 2 of the doctors are in the same office, the third doctor is where Rush was treated for his ear problem, and the other I can't remember what he said, but he was linked with the third doctor. In other words, how could Rush be doctor shopping when the all the doctors are linked together? Did anyone else hear this yesterday?

[Howlin]

The leaks by the prosecutor's office are a blatant violation of privacy.

What leaks are those?

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

LOL! Florida loves -- loved -- Chiles! Even the Republicans!

It's pretty hard not to get elected when you run unopposed tho.

[HiTech RedNeck]

it has not been picked up by any major news media the fact that this charge of doctor shopping is bogus.

If so, I bet Krischner still has a Teflon face. No egg sticks to it. It never does to Demonrats.

[Howlin]

Why are you jumping on him because he corrected somebody else's ERROR?

The prosecutor is NOT a Clinton appointee, which has been a mantra around here since the day this news first broke.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Yeah, like America loves -- loved -- Clinton!

D-Y-S-F-U-N-C-T-I-O-N. Can you spell it kiddies?

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

I didn't listen yesterday -- but if the doctors are linked and all had access to his medical records, they all had access to his prescription records and would know what each other is prescribing.

Do you remember any of the doctors' names? I can certainly check if and how they are connected - if they are the same clinic, they have to be registered.

[leadpenny]

I'm not a lawyer so I know very little about these things, but I do know it would be premature to organize any form of direct action in support of a Radio Talk Show Host. For me it would be, anyway.

[Brian Allen]

Mr Limbaugh's Statement on Ongoing Florida Fishing Expedition

December 23, 2003


Listen to Mr Limbaugh ...
[ ... give his take on the criminal investigation into his medical records]

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT 1:06 PM EST


Ladies and gentlemen, you know, it's been real frustrating here for the past - what has this been? - past three months. It has been very frustrating to sit here and see what gets released and then reported in the media and to have to remain silent about it for a number of reasons. The occasion for silence is now ended because of the medical records hearing that occurred yesterday here in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Now, the judge ruled against me on the privacy of my medical records despite the fact that we claim that the prosecution in this case did not follow the law as written by the Florida legislature in securing those medical records.

Where have we heard this before? "That authorities in Florida did not follow the law as established by the Florida legislature." We've heard this in the Gore-Bush recount, when the Florida Supreme Court decided to change election law in the middle of the process, in order to keep counting counties that had been counted over and over again. All these chads, all these magnifying glasses. So what has happened now, we've issued a press release, a statement, if you will, that just went out, and it's already been reported by some places. I want to read this to you and then have just a few comments about this, and then we will move on.

The headline of our statement - it's not really a press release; we just issued a statement in response - "My Lawyers to File for Stay, Appeal Judge's Ruling Denying Motion to Quash Search Warrant on Seizure of Medical Records." Here's the statement. Now, this is odd for me because it's got my name in it and I don't like reading about myself, but there's some quotes in here. So even though I never talk in this third-person business, please permit me in this case because it's a written statement that I'm going to read.

"Judge Jeffrey Winikoff today denied a request by Mr Limbaugh's attorneys [My attorneys] to quash the search warrants issued for the seizure of my confidential medical records. Roy Black, my attorney, said, quote, "We respectfully disagree with the court's decision and will be filing an appeal today. These records will show that there was no doctor shopping. But the larger issue is that the seizure of Mr. Limbaugh's private medical records without going through the process outlined by the state legislature is clearly an invasion of Mr. Limbaugh's constitutional right to privacy. Mr. Limbaugh was not Dr. Shopping.


"He should not have to sacrifice his privacy to prove his innocence. The burden is on the prosecutor's office, not only to prove otherwise, but also to go through the appropriate legal process that protects an individual's right to privacy. We are confident we will prevail on appeal," said Roy Black. In his order, the judge wrote, 'the state is hereby prohibited from disclosure of any of the seized medical records to all third parties absent further order of this court.'" Now, why would the judge say that? Why would the judge put in his order that the state is hereby prohibited from disclosure of any of the seized medical records to all third parties?

I'll tell you why, because the state has been leaking information to the press throughout this investigation. They have been planting information that is not established, throughout this investigation. Of course you've got an eager media lapping it all up. More on that in just a moment. "The judge's order directs Mr. Limbaugh's attorneys to file any motions or pleadings he deems appropriate." So we did; we filed for a stay today. We want to appeal this. If we have to go to a Circuit Court of Appeals, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, we will do so. This doesn't stop the state from opening the records. They can do it. But we'll just see how much the state respects our desire to follow the legal process all the way out on this.

Now, let me take you back to the beginning of this. Do you recall how you first heard of this story, ladies and gentlemen? It was in a tabloid newspaper. Nothing from law enforcement. You first heard about this in a tabloid newspaper, and everything in that tabloid newspaper article was accepted as gospel. The media ran with it. It was The Truth. Then, we heard stories that I was involved in a drug ring investigation. This was leaked by "anonymous sources," "high-placed government sources close to the investigation." Next, we heard that I was being investigated for drug trafficking - again leaked by anonymous sources, high-place government sources, close to the investigation.


With each of these leaks the media did solemn reports on the possible severe penalties, and the investigation continues, and then they would casually whisper "No charges have been filed." Next, we heard that I was being investigated for money laundering, again leaked by anonymous sources, high-government sources, quote, unquote, close to the investigation. Now, ladies and gentlemen, what happened to all that? Hmm? What happened to all those things? What happened to the drug ring investigation? What happened to the drug trafficking investigation? What happened to the money laundering investigation? Have you heard of them since they were leaked? No. I wonder why? Why haven't we heard about these investigations?

Now maybe we can answer the question. Now, these same high-place government sources have gotten permission to see my medical records. Why do they need my medical records? I mean, if they've got a drug ring investigation going and they've leaked all this to the press, and if they've got drug traffic investigation going and they've leaked all this to the press, and they've got a money laundering investigation, why do they need to invade my privacy to see my medical records? The answer is, because they need my medical records to discover, to learn whether I have committed a crime called doctor shopping.

Drug ring, drug trafficking, money laundering. Now they need my medical records, my private medical records to find out if I've committed a crime called doctor shopping? You mean with all these previous leaks, they now have to invade my privacy to learn whether I have broken the law? Why, I thought based on the leaks I've broken the law all these times! How many of you did? How many of you thought, "Gee, whiz, this is really getting bad." Doctor shopping? Doctor shopping. And they need to invade my privacy to even find out about that. These medical records, by the way, will prove legitimate medical conditions requiring treatment.

I'm so tempted to just tell you, but I'm just not going to make their job any easier. But the question is this: Why would any of us want such records made public, even if they prove our innocence? It's not up to me to prove my innocence by giving up my right to privacy. I have to give up my right to privacy now in order for the state who is, in effect, just casting a line out there, hoping to hook something. They've got to invade my privacy to do this. We still haven't seen Bill Clinton's medical records, have we? Has anybody? We haven't seen Howard Dean's records as governor for 11 years in Vermont.

But we can cast a wide fishing net, we can stand out there after all these leaks, and we can throw a fishing line out there and we can, "Ooh, let's maybe, maybe we'll find something in Limbaugh's medical records." Now, as you all know, I have admitted that I was addicted to prescription painkillers. I have been to five weeks of treatment. After failing twice to get off of these things myself, I sought professional help, did so, and I continue to be in treatment now. Now, I don't know, and this is...I run the risk here. I'm not whining about it. I'm just genuinely curious. How many such people are being pursued by the authorities?

I could give you some names of actors and actresses and sports figures, and not one of them have been pursued in this circumstance. Let me read to you from the New York Times today just to establish this leak business - and there's more than you even know about this. "During Mr. Black's presentation yesterday at the medical records hearing, the most detailed defense of Mr. Limbaugh since the investigation became public in October, the lawyer called the prosecution of his client 'a witch hunt built on leaks tailored to smear my reputation.' In court yesterday, Roy Black accused the state attorney's office in Palm Beach County of orchestrating leaks to several organizations, and details were given."

There was a court reporter there. Have you, in all the stories of this hearing yesterday, have you seen very many detailed references to what my lawyer said about the leaks in this case? Well, it's all there, if anybody cares to go get the court transcript, and you'll find out exactly what was said by my lawyer regarding this. My friends, it is, and has been, obvious to me for the longest time that all these leaks were an attempt to try me in the court of public opinion. The Democrats in this country still cannot defeat me in the arena of political ideas, and so now they are trying to do so in the court of public opinion and the legal system. I guess it's payback time. And since I'm not running for office, can't get to me that way. They're going to seek the occasion of this event in my life to see, to find out if they can do any damage. And that's as much as I want to say... No, that's not as much as I want to say; that's as much as I'm going to say about it at the moment.

END TRANSCRIPT

[HiTech RedNeck]

[If so, I bet Krischner still has a Teflon face]

Oh, and to avoid all impropriety: Teflon is a registered trademark of Du Pont de Nemours et al.

[Howlin]

You know what makes me nervous about that statement from Rush's web site? That's exactly the same thing Martha Stewart did.

And she got the hammer dropped on her.

[leadpenny]

See my 32. I'm just saying it is a time, imo, to see how things shake out.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I think Rush in spite of his wrong has more credibility than Martha. Rush was not QUITE as much of a towering overweening micromanaging monomaniac. (But I still buy Martha Stewart placemats. The woman does have good taste. Maybe Rush Limbaugh ought to endorse an aftershave.)

[Howlin]

I'm not saying he doesn't have more credibility than she did -- hell, who doesn't.

I'm saying that she used her web site to "defend" herself and attack the prosecutors -- and they charged her with interferring with the investigation -- or something close to that -- can't remember exactly what.

Like leadpenny said, this thing IS going to play out; why antagonize them with all this spinning? To some, those remarks about the prosecutor could be construed as threats -- or, and worse, out and out lies. The only "leaks" I've heard of came from The National Enquirer and the maid. He sounded so pi$$y today it was kind of scary. It made me think that there is something more we don't know about.

[HiTech RedNeck]

He's saying the same thing in public, afaik, that one could get out of a public transcript of Rush's court sessions.

[Howlin]

You've just made my point; these are nothing more than ACCUSATIONS that he and Roy Black are making without offering ANY proof at all. Nobody except Roy Black has claimed Rush was blackmailed; and nobody except Roy Black and Rush is claiming he's been smeared -- unless Rush now considers the truth a smear.

That "presentation" in court and on his web site rival Mark Geragos' claim that Satanists killed Laci Peterson.

And neither Roy Black OR Mark Geragos will EVER be held accountable for those words if they turn out to be lies.

[greenwolf]

This DA is going to have a brilliant future at McDonalds...

[HiTech RedNeck]

The point is, Rush didn't say anything to his listeners and readers that Black didn't already, in court papers that anybody can get.

Yes it is a shot across that demonRat's bow. A 36 inch cannonball, to be more specific. "Come and get me." Krishna[sp] would be stupid to take the bait. This after all is simply the state of FloriDUH. Not what Martha tangled with, i.e. the almighty Uncle Sam.

[dennisw]

It seems to me the local DA (Kischner) is going after Rush Limbaugh on a crime that no one else is pursued on. Illegally buying and using prescription pain medicines. The dealers are gone after, not the consumers. Rush was not distributing, more likely was being blackmailed by his housekeeper/supplier.

[HiTech RedNeck]

more likely was being blackmailed by his housekeeper/supplier

As it "keep on buying my Oxy's or I rat"? Hmm could that be why she passed on to him (or reportedly did) something like a dozen times more pills than he could possibly eat without falling over dead? I wonder if his sewer system is very happy :-) :-)

[TonyRo76]

We have the judicial system.

That doesn't inspire alot of faith in me!

[tbpiper]

Why are you jumping on him because he corrected somebody else's ERROR?

Go get some coffee and wake up. I wasn't jumping on anybody. I did not say he was a clinton apointee. He has strong ties to New York and while most likely is not in cahoots with the jr senator of said state, he most likely has strong sympathies in that direction. Miriam Oliphant was not a clinton apointee either, but that did not prevent her from thowing a heavy bias in the 2000 elections.

[leadpenny]

I know what you mean but what's the alternative?

From the Counties in Florida through the Florida Supreme Court to the US
Supreme Court the system worked in November and December of 2000.

[TonyRo76]

You're right, and I'm not suggesting any extra-legal alternatives. In fact, as you just illustrated, sometimes the system actually works (gasp!) What's sad is that that is so shocking.

The black-robed tyrants in our "autocratic branch" have more recently given us so many examples of a system that doesn't work; Lawrence v. Texas is a prime example. The Pledge of Allegiance decision from the 9th Circus is another. The list goes on and on. If their Constitution-trashing habits in civil law are any indication, I just don't have a whole lotta faith in judges to administer criminal law justly, either.

[TonyRo76]

Oh...and how could I overlook the Sumpremos' decision "repealing" the 1st Amendment, regarding CFR?