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PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 4 — Investigators
who raided the offices of Rush Limbaugh’s doctors said in search
warrants filed Thursday that the conservative radio commentator engaged
in illegal drug use and “doctor shopping” for prescription painkillers.
THE WARRANTS SHOW
investigators were looking for records including prescription
disbursements, appointment schedules, receipts and a medical
questionnaire.
“Mr. Limbaugh’s actions violate the letter, and spirit” of the law that
relates to “doctor shopping,” stated one of warrants, signed by Asim
Brown, a law enforcement agent assigned to the state attorney’s office
anti-money laundering task force. Doctor shopping refers to looking for
a doctor willing to prescribe drugs illegally.
The warrants — which name four doctors and several prescription drugs —
show investigators were looking for records including prescription
disbursements, appointment schedules, receipts and a medical
questionnaire when they raided the offices Nov. 25.
Limbaugh denied any wrongdoing to listeners on his radio show earlier
Thursday and accused prosecutors in Palm Beach County of going on a
“fishing expedition.”
Reading from a statement prepared by his attorney Roy Black, Limbaugh
denied any wrongdoing and said the medical records will clear him.
“What these records show is that Mr. Limbaugh suffered extreme pain and
had legitimate reasons for taking pain medication,” Limbaugh said.
“Unfortunately, because of Mr. Limbaugh’s prominence and well-known
political opinions, he is being subjected to an invasion of privacy no
citizen of this republic should endure.”
State Attorney Barry Krischer said in a statement that Limbaugh’s rights
have been “scrupulously protected.”
“Whether Mr. Limbaugh is subject to prosecution for any crimes is still
under investigation. Mr. Limbaugh is presumed innocent,” Krischer said.
RECORDS SUPPORT ALLEGATIONS
The search warrants were
filed at Palm Beach County Circuit Court. One was executed at Palm Beach
Ear, Nose and Throat Association in Palm Beach Gardens, where
investigators seized five months of records from a Palm Beach pharmacy
that they say support the doctor-shopping allegations.
Two warrants were executed at the offices of Jupiter Outpatient Surgery
Center. Information on the fourth warrant wasn’t immediately available.
The records seized include prescriptions for Norco, Niacin, OxyContin,
Xanax, Lorcet and other medications. The physicians named in the
warrants are Dr. Nathaniel Drourr, Dr. Antonio De La Cruz, Dr. Lawrence
Deziel and Dr. John Murray.
Drourr and officials at both centers declined comment, citing privacy
laws. Murray did not return a phone call seeking comment, and the other
doctors could not be immediately reached.
Limbaugh was absent from his show for five weeks recently while spending
time at a drug rehabilitation program because of his addiction to
prescription painkillers.
Previously, law enforcement sources in Palm Beach County, where Limbaugh
owns a $24 million oceanfront mansion, confirmed that a criminal
investigation into a prescription drug ring involved Limbaugh. His
former maid, Wilma Cline, reported supplying him with OxyContin and
other painkillers.
Last month, a law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity
said authorities also were investigating whether Limbaugh illegally
funneled money to buy prescription painkillers. The radio host responded
with a blanket denial of the allegations during his third day back on
the air.
© 2003 Associated Press.
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