Rush Limbaugh the bigot and now drug dealer is in trouble...maybe...Tough Times
Rush Limbaugh Ends One Public Problem and Faces Another
abcnews.go.com
Oct. 3— Just after he resigned his ESPN gig because of comments he made about a black quarterback's performance, Rush Limbaugh could be facing the heat again. ABCNEWS has learned new details about his alleged ties to a black-market drug ring.
A high-ranking official in Florida has told ABCNEWS some surprising details about the state's investigation of Rush Limbaugh.
ABCNEWS has confirmed that radio mega-star Rush Limbaugh is being investigated for allegedly buying illegal prescription drugs near his Palm Beach, Fla., home. Palm Beach authorities had no official comment.
"We don't comment on investigations," said Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office.
But a source close to the investigation told ABCNEWS that Limbaugh's former housekeeper claims she helped Limbaugh purchase thousands of prescription painkillers over a four-year period — at times in the parking lot of a local Denny's restaurant. Among the drugs she says she purchased: the powerful painkiller OxyContin.
The source also says investigators have audiotapes of at least two drug transactions — allegedly with Limbaugh's voice — but these were recorded secretly by the former housekeeper, not by police.
Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates the politically focused Rush Limbaugh Show to more than 650 markets, issued a statement from Limbaugh on Thursday saying: "I am unaware of any investigation by any authority involving me. No government representative has contacted me directly or indirectly. If my assistance is required, I will, of course, cooperate fully."
If the allegations prove true, the talk show host will undoubtedly need to address some of his past comments about drug abuse.
Back in 1995, Limbaugh told his audience on the syndicated Rush Limbaugh, The Television Show that people who are obtaining drugs illegally should be held responsible.
"Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up," he said to his audience during the broadcast.
Media Columnist Michael Wolff says Limbaugh's career might not be able to survive a drug charge.
"It would be labeled as an instance of incredible hypocrisy … Mr. Family values, Mr. Tough on Crime," Wolff said.
At risk for Limbaugh, not just his credibility, but a media empire that has earned his networks and stations more than a billion dollars since 1988.
"If this is a felony we're talking about here, than this is the end of Rush Limbaugh. That's it," Wolff said.
Limbaugh gave up his job as an ESPN sports analyst late Wednesday, three days after saying on the sports network's Sunday NFL Countdown that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
ABCNEWS' Bob Woodruff contributed to this report. |
