Radio host Rush Limbaugh has agreed to a deal with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office to end the investigation into his “doctor shopping” prescription drug case. The investigation has dragged through the courts for the last few years, with the prosecution recently winning the release of some of Mr. Limbaugh’s relevant medical records, yet no charges have ever resulted. On Friday, however, Mr. Limbaugh appeared for booking, posted bail and was released. Limbaugh attorney Roy Black released a statement:

Settlement Agreement Ends State Investigation of Rush Limbaugh
April 28, 2006

Palm Beach, FL – April 28, 2006 – In response to media and other inquiries, Roy Black, Rush Limbaugh’s attorney, released the following statement today concerning a settlement agreement with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office to end the investigation of Mr. Limbaugh:

"I am pleased to announce that the State Attorney’s Office and Mr. Limbaugh have reached an agreement whereby a single count charge of doctor shopping filed today by the State Attorney will be dismissed in 18 months. As a primary condition of the dismissal, Mr. Limbaugh must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years. This is the same doctor under whose care Mr. Limbaugh has remained free of his addiction without relapse.

"Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position. Accordingly, we filed today with the Court a plea of ‘Not Guilty’ to the charge filed by the State.

"As part of this agreement, Mr. Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months, must pay $30 per month for the cost of "supervision" and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement.
"Mr. Limbaugh had intended to remain in treatment. Thus, we believe the outcome for him personally will be much as if he had fought the charge and won."

The actions taken today are as follows:

• The State Attorney has filed a single charge of doctor shopping with the Court. The charge is being held in abeyance under the terms of an agreement between the State and Mr. Limbaugh.

• Mr. Limbaugh has filed a plea of "Not Guilty" with the Court.

The formal agreement between Mr. Limbaugh and the State Attorney will be filed with the Court on Monday. The terms of the agreement are substantively as follows:

• Mr. Limbaugh will continue in treatment with the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years.

• After Mr. Limbaugh completes an additional 18 months of treatment, the State Attorney has agreed to drop the charge.

• Mr. Limbaugh has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation.

Media coverage is naturally stilted, given that a conservative figure is involved. From the Palm Beach Post:

Limbaugh, booked and out of jail within an hour, will likely never have to darken the courthouse door or plead guilty to the crime, though.

The disappointment that Mr. Limbaugh is apparently “off the hook” seems to be seeping through. Of course, our Liberal friends have invested significant energy into the case, hoping beyond hope for a felony conviction to silence their political enemy. Perhaps now that the Palm Beach State Attorney’s crusade to clean up talk radio is drawing to a close he can turn his attention to Hollywood, popular music, or even Washington D.C., where drug problems and skeletons in the closet are regarded as resume enhancements instead of legal entanglements.

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