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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (33371)	12/23/2003 1:06:21 AM
From: Karen Lawrence	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

He's up to something!!! Limbaugh lawyer: Radio host was being blackmailed by ex-housekeeper cnn.com Investigators seek to unseal Limbaugh's medical records. WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- An attorney for Rush Limbaugh charged Monday that the conservative talk show host was being blackmailed by the Florida couple whose allegations triggered an ongoing investigation into his purchases of painkillers. During a hearing over whether prosecutors should have access to Limbaugh's medical records, attorney Roy Black said Limbaugh paid "extreme amounts of money" to Wilma Cline, his former housekeeper, and her husband, first for pills and then for extortion. Black alleged that the Clines had threatened to go public with information about Limbaugh's drug use unless they received $4 million. Black said Limbaugh wanted to contact the FBI, but was told by an unidentified friend that if he went to the authorities, they would target him, and his political enemies would use the information against him. "That's exactly what happened," said Black, who also alleged that Cline's husband was a convicted drug trafficker. The accusation by Limbaugh's attorney came on the day that a judge began hearing arguments over whether Limbaugh's medical records should be unsealed. Prosecutors are investigating whether Limbaugh obtained and used prescription painkillers illegally and want the records opened. No charges have yet been filed against Limbaugh. A spokeswoman for the radio network that carries Limbaugh's show said discussions have taken place between Black and prosecutors about a possible resolution of the investigation of Limbaugh. Keven Bellows, a spokeswoman for Premier Radio Networks, said Black had been talking with the Palm Beach County state attorney's office about Limbaugh "accepting responsibility for his actions." But one of Limbaugh's attorneys, Mark Shapiro, strongly denied that any plea negotiations are taking place, saying Limbaugh is "not prepared to plead guilty to anything." Bellows said Limbaugh, who recently completed treatment for addiction to prescription painkillers, recognizes that he may have purchased drugs illegally under Florida law and "certainly had more pills than he could ever use." In a later interview, however, she denied making that last comment. Bellows said Limbaugh never intended to sell the drugs. "He wants this thing to go away," she said. "He won't admit to anything he didn't do." Limbaugh is broadcasting from South Florida this week and may say something about the case on the air Tuesday, according to Bellows. Ruling on medical records expected Tuesday According to court documents, the investigation centers on whether Limbaugh engaged in "doctor shopping" -- getting multiple prescriptions from several doctors that he could not have received from just one. Such an offense is a felony under Florida law. In court documents, investigators say Limbaugh obtained about 2,000 pills during five months, sometimes getting multiple prescriptions less than a month apart. Limbaugh has insisted he has done nothing illegal. Earlier this month, prosecutors executed search warrants to seize Limbaugh's medical records from two doctors. Under Florida law, a judge must give his approval before prosecutors can review those records. At a hearing Monday afternoon, Limbaugh's attorneys argued that authorities should not be given access to the records, saying prosecutors could have used "less intrusive means" to obtain information for their investigation, such as issuing subpoenas to doctors for records and information. But prosecutors argued that the records are relevant and necessary to an ongoing investigation into how Limbaugh obtained painkillers. Assistant State Attorney James Martz said prosecutors feared records could be altered if authorities subpoenaed them, rather than seizing them After hearing from both sides, Circuit Court Judge Jeff Winnkoff said he will hand down a ruling Tuesday. Sources have told CNN that the investigation into Limbaugh's drug use began in February when Cline, who once worked as a housekeeper at his home in West Palm Beach, went to authorities. The Clines later went public with their charges in the National Enquirer, alleging that Limbaugh's representative had paid them hush money. Sources said the couple was paid a six-figure sum for their story.

To: lurqer who wrote (33371)	12/23/2003 10:35:36 AM
From: TigerPaw	Respond to of 89467

A Florida judge Tuesday ordered radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh's medical records released to prosecutors cnn.com According to court documents, the investigation centers on whether Limbaugh engaged in "doctor shopping" -- getting multiple prescriptions from several doctors that he could not have received from just one. Such an offense is a felony under Florida law. CNN says plea bargain. cnn.com A spokeswoman for the radio network that carries Limbaugh's show said discussions have taken place between Black and prosecutors about a possible resolution of the investigation of Limbaugh. Keven Bellows, a spokeswoman for Premier Radio Networks, said Black had been talking with the Palm Beach County state attorney's office about Limbaugh "accepting responsibility for his actions." Newsmax says no plea newsmax.com Responding to a CNN report late Monday that the top talker was ready to cop a plea, one of his attorneys, Mark Shapiro insisted Tuesday that Limbaugh is "not prepared to plead guilty to anything." Shapiro also denied that any plea negotiations were under way.

To: lurqer who wrote (33371)	12/23/2003 2:07:04 PM
From: Karen Lawrence	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 89467

Rush defense: His maid OVERCHARGED him for procurement of illegal drugs - and they are illegal if they aren't prescribed -, then she threatened to go public - BLACKMAIL. Rush claims there's a double standard. Sure there is! He'd never have gotten "out of jail free" by passing go straight into rehab were he not a celeb of sorts. He's probably out looking for a mute maid drug-provider as I type. Limbaugh's lawyer says maid blackmailed broadcaster over prescription drugs JILL BARTON, Associated Press Writer Tuesday, December 23, 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12-23) 03:06 PST WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Rush Limbaugh's lawyer said the conservative radio commentator was "bled dry" by a former maid who demanded $4 million and threatened to reveal his addiction to prescription painkillers. Attorney Roy Black said Monday that Limbaugh could not complain to authorities about the maid's demand because they would use the information against him, though the maid and her husband eventually went public anyway. The claim was made during a court hearing where Black asked that medical records related to Limbaugh be kept secret. The seizure of the records from doctors in Florida and California violated the conservative radio commentator's privacy, Black argued. Palm Beach County prosecutors insist they need to review the records, which are sealed, to determine how much Limbaugh's doctors knew about his frequent prescriptions for OxyContin, hydrocodone and other painkillers. In a statement Monday, Limbaugh's lawyers denied their client was considering a plea bargain. The statement was released after Keven Bellows, a spokeswoman for Premier Radio Networks, told CNN that Black had been talking with prosecutors about Limbaugh "accepting responsibility for his actions." Assistant State Attorney James Martz said in court that judges approved search warrants after investigators discovered Limbaugh received more than 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors, at a pharmacy near his $24 million mansion. "Now the next question is did those doctors know about each other?" Martz said. Reviewing the records would be the only way to determine if Limbaugh violated the law by withholding information from his doctors -- and went "doctor shopping" for drugs. Limbaugh's attorneys outlined a defense against accusations that he illegally used prescription painkillers and laundered money to finance his drug habit. Black said Limbaugh suffered from a degenerative disc disease with "pain so great at one point doctors thought he had bone cancer," and that Limbaugh chose to take addictive painkillers rather than have surgery. Surgery would have meant doctors would have gone through Limbaugh's throat to operate on his spine, which could threaten his career as a commentator, Black said. Limbaugh's former maid, Wilma Cline, learned of his addiction and threatened to sell the story to The National Enquirer. She and her husband, David Cline, demanded millions and were "paid substantial amounts of money," the lawyer said. The couple "bled him dry" and then went to authorities to gain immunity from prosecutors before selling their story for $250,000 to the Enquirer, Black said. The tabloid ran a story in October, days before Limbaugh announced he would enter a drug rehabilitation program, alleging they supplied him drugs for years. Black said Limbaugh paid money to the Clines because they were blackmailing him -- not because he was laundering money. "It's not money laundering to pay blackmail and extortion," Black said. Ed Shohat, the attorney for the Clines, denied Black's allegation. "Rush Limbaugh confessed and admitted that he bought the pills. ... I know of no facts that my clients demanded money from Rush Limbaugh in any way," he said. Limbaugh allegedly withdrew cash 30 to 40 times at amounts just under the $10,000 limit that requires a bank to report the transaction to the federal government. The action drew suspicion because it can be a federal crime to structure financial transactions below the $10,000 limit. "This would never happen except this guy's name is Rush Limbaugh," Black said about the financial probe. "There's a double standard." Martz declined to comment after the hearing. Judge Jeffrey A. Winikoff did not say when he would decide whether the records should be unsealed. www.sfgate.com