Surprise! It's the Democrats' fault that Rush has to answer for his vast consumption of illegal drugs. Gee, Rush, I thought you were in favor of strict enforcement of drug laws. Are you now arguing for lax enforcement?
Limbaugh loses petition to keep records private
Rush Limbaugh blames Democrats after a judge denies his request to keep his medical records private.
BY HANNAH SAMPSON
hsampson@herald.com
Radio personality Rush Limbaugh lost a bid to keep his medical records private from state prosecutors who want to determine whether he went ''doctor shopping'' for prescription painkillers.
Limbaugh's attorney had argued that his client's privacy had been violated when prosecutors seized medical records and asked that the records be kept private.
On Tuesday, Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey A. Winikoff denied that request, noting that ``the Court knows of no less intrusive means to obtain the clearly relevant information than the methods the State employed here.''
After the ruling, Limbaugh blasted the decision on his radio show, claiming that Democrats were out to sully his reputation and accusing the state of embarking on a fishing expedition.
His attorney, Roy Black, released a statement disagreeing with the ruling and announcing his plan to appeal.
The Associated Press reported that Black asked a judge to keep prosecutors from looking at the records until the appeal is decided.
''Mr. Limbaugh was not doctor shopping and he should not have to sacrifice his privacy to prove his innocence,'' the attorney's statement said.
Limbaugh has not been charged; whether he will face charges is still under investigation, according to the Palm Beach County state attorney's office.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer reiterated on Tuesday a statement he had made previously: ``This office has scrupulously protected Mr. Limbaugh's rights.''
On the radio show Tuesday, Limbaugh decried what his website called an ''ongoing Florida fishing expedition'' as well as leaks about the investigation to the media.
''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,'' he said, according to a transcript of the show on
www.rushlimbaugh.com.
''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,'' Limbaugh said.
Authorities seized his medical records after learning that Limbaugh had obtained more than 2,000 prescription pills from four different doctors between March and September, according to search warrants.
The Palm Beach Post and The Associated Press contributed to this report
