Rush Limbaugh, Dominican Republic, Miami, Drugs

RUSH REPORT DISPUTED

Were Illegal Drugs Found At Airport Monday Evening?



*** UPDATED Tuesday Evening With Audio and Video Links, PLUS: What Law Was Broken?***

Matt Drudge is quickly pouring cold water on a breaking news report from CBS-4 / Miami that claims Rush Limbaugh was being held at Palm Beach's airport tonight after authorities found illegal prescription drugs upon the mega-talker's return from the Dominican Republic.

From CBS-4:

Limbaugh Detained At Airport

Joy Purdy
Reporting

(CBS4 News) WEST PALM BEACH Sources have confirmed to CBS4 News that conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been detained at Palm Beach International Airport for the possible possession of illegal prescription drugs Monday evening.

Limbaugh was returning on a flight from the Dominican Republic when officials found the drugs, among them Viagra.

Limbaugh entered a plea deal back in April in a previous case where his charge of fraud to conceal information to obtain prescriptions was dropped under the condition he continue undergoing treatment for addiction.

Limbaugh had admitted to being addicted to pain killers on his radio program and had entered a rehabilitation program prior to that arrest.

According to Drudge:

UPDATE: Rush Limbaugh 'had no illegal drugs or prescription drug obtained illegally in his possession,' source says, contrary to a claim by CBS-TV in Miami... MORE...

If the report turns out to be inaccurate or outright untrue, it will most certainly bring back memories of the "Rush Limbaugh arrested" network news flashes from earlier this year, which resulted in the misleading images shown here.

Will there be another "mugshot" to plaster across CNN, MSNBC and other liberal networks?

And was he really caught with Viagra? What a scandal!

Watch for updates...


JUST IN FROM PREMIERE RADIO NETWORKS:

Rush Limbaugh’s Attorney Roy Black Responds to Media Inquiries

Miami, FL -- June 26, 2006 -- Roy Black, Rush Limbaugh's attorney, issued the following statement today in response to several inquiries by the media:

While going through routine Customs inspection of luggage at Palm Beach International Airport upon his return from an international trip, Rush Limbaugh was detained by customs agents after they noticed a non-narcotic prescription drug, which had been prescribed by Mr. Limbaugh's treating physician but labeled as being issued to the physician rather than Mr. Limbaugh for privacy purposes. After a brief interview, Mr. Limbaugh was permitted to continue on his journey.

Source: Roy Black


Amir Forester
Vice President, Public Relations
Premiere Radio Networks

IN THE BLOGOSPHERE:


Filled with hate, liberals are already salivating over this one. Has Olbermann already taken his cheap shots? Yes, from MSNBC tonight, see top-left image.

From the right, AMERICABlog thinks Rush could be in trouble. Assorted Babble sees bias at work.

Macsmind says Google News is link-happy over the story. Also, more from The Moderate Voice.

Michelle Malkin wonders what happened to the ACLU personal- privacy types.


NEW this morning, from the AP:

Limbaugh detained at Palm Beach airport
Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities said they found a bottle of Viagra in his possession without a prescription.

Customs officials found a prescription bottle labeled as Viagra in his luggage that didn't have Limbaugh's name on it, but that of two doctors, said Paul Miller, spokesman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

A doctor had prescribed the drug, but it was "labeled as being issued to the physician rather than Mr. Limbaugh for privacy purposes," Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, said in a statement.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection examined the 55-year-old radio commentator's luggage after his private plane landed at the airport from the Dominican Republic, said Miller.

The matter was referred to the sheriff's office, whose investigators interviewed Limbaugh. According to Miller, Limbaugh said that the Viagra was for his use, and that he obtained it from his doctors.

Investigators confiscated the drugs, which treats erectile dysfunction, and Limbaugh was released without being charged.

The sheriff's office plans to file a report with the state attorney's office. Miller said it could be a second-degree misdemeanor violation.

CNN's version is here.


ON TODAY'S SHOW


Matt Drudge's brief transcript:

RUSH LIMBAUGH: 'HOW DID BOB DOLE'S LUGGAGE GET ON MY AIRPLANE? I TOLD MY DOCTOR I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION'... ...CUSTOMS DID NOT BELIEVE ME WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I GOT THOSE PILLS AT THE BILL CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY'...

Rush Limbaugh, comedian. Audio at The Media Crunch.

Outside The Beltway has video.


UPDATE: WHAT LAW WAS BROKEN?


Per MSNBC, of all places:

Limbaugh joked about the search on his radio show Tuesday, saying Customs officials didn’t believe him when he said he got the pills at the Clinton Library and he was told they were blue M&Ms. He later added, chuckling: “I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Wish I could tell you about it.”

It is generally not illegal under Florida law for a physician to prescribe medication in a third party’s name if all parties are aware and the doctor documents it correctly, said Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the state attorney in Palm Beach County. He would not discuss specifics in the Limbaugh case Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office was continuing its investigation and would soon turn the case over to prosecutors, Edmondson said. The alleged violation could be a second-degree misdemeanor if Limbaugh’s doctor doesn’t confirm the prescription.

Under last month’s deal with prosecutors, authorities will dismiss a “doctor shopping” charge if Limbaugh doesn’t get arrested for 18 months, among other terms. Prosecutors had said he illegally deceived multiple doctors to get overlapping painkiller prescriptions. Limbaugh denied the charges but admitted he was addicted to painkillers.

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