Law firm seeks source of media leak in Rush Limbaugh probe

Conservative public-interest law firm suggests 'journalist shopping,' seeks records from State Attorney's Office.

A conservative public-interest law firm is seeking records from the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, in an attempt to determine if the office has planted negative stories in the media about an investigation into Rush Limbaugh.

I can't stand excerpts, especially when posted in breaking news and a link that requires a search to find the story....

A conservative nonprofit law firm filed a request Thursday with Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer seeking any records of his staff's communications with the media relating to his office's investigation into Rush Limbaugh's prescription drug use.

Mark Levin, president of the Virginia-based Landmark Legal Foundation, submitted the request under Florida laws that make government records open to the public.

The request seeks any records that refer to Limbaugh dating to Jan. 1, 2000, that are not exempt from public review as part of the criminal investigation. Levin could not be reached late Thursday for comment.

Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, has accused Krischer spokesman Michael Edmondson of leaking confidential information about the investigation to the media. Black also has said he asked Krischer for an investigation into Edmondson without receiving a response.

"Although we have nothing to do with the Landmark request, we obviously are in agreement with many of the points they raise and are anxious to see what information they receive," Black said in a statement Thursday.

Edmondson said Thursday his responses to news media inquiries have been proper under the law.

Landmark's request specifically seeks "any and all communications, information and records in the possession of Michael Edmondson" relating to the Limbaugh investigation.

Black maintains that the investigation into Limbaugh, a conservative radio commentator, is politically motivated. Krischer is a Democrat.

Prosecutors seized Limbaugh's medical records, which were sealed, from four doctors late last year. The search warrants they used show prosecutors are investigating Limbaugh for possible violations of Florida's "doctor shopping" law, which makes it illegal to secretly obtain overlapping drug prescriptions.

Black is trying to prevent prosecutors from obtaining access to the records, in a battle that is now before the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach.

In December, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Winikoff determined that prosecutors properly seized the records and opened them up. The next day Winikoff ordered the records resealed to give Black time to appeal the decision.

Peter Franceschina can be reached at pfranceschina@sun-sentinel.com or 561-832-2894.

It seems like the reasoning behind this fishing expedition changes from day to day .... NOT that they have to give any reason mind you, anyone who cares to can ask for and get the personal contact records of any private citizen who seeks to communicate with his elected representatives in Florida.

"A conservative public-interest law firm is seeking records from the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, in an attempt to determine if the office has planted negative stories in the media about an investigation into Rush Limbaugh."

"Mark R. Levin, President of Landmark, stated: "We want to know why Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer waited 10-months before investigating allegations against Rush Limbaugh -- only after stories appeared in the National Enquirer. We're concerned that once the story became public, Mr. Krischer, an elected prosecutor, may have been pressured to use extraordinary tactics and resources to punish Rush for his viewpoints."

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