Pubdate: Thu, 02 Oct 2003
Source: New York Daily News (NY)
Copyright: 2003 Daily News, L.P.
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/295
Website: http://www.nydailynews.com/
Author: Tracy Connor, Daily News Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rush+Limbaugh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)

RUSH LIMBAUGH IN PILL PROBE

Talk Radio Star Had Drug Habit, Maid Sez

"Talk-radio titan Rush Limbaugh is being investigated for allegedly
buying thousands of addictive painkillers from a black-market drug
ring.

"The moralizing motormouth was turned in by his former housekeeper --
who says she was Limbaugh's pill supplier for four years.

"Wilma Cline, 42, says Limbaugh was hooked on the potent prescription
drugs OxyContin, Lorcet and hydrocodone -- and went through detox
twice. 'There were times when I worried,' Cline told the National
Enquirer, which broke the story in an edition being published today.
'All these pills are enough to kill an elephant -- never mind a man.'
. . .

"The Daily News independently confirmed that Limbaugh is under
investigation.

"His lawyers, Jerry Fox and Dan Zachary, refused to comment on the
accusations and said any "medical information" about him was private
and not newsworthy.

"They said Limbaugh . . . was traveling and had no
comment.

"The Palm Beach County state attorney's office, which is running the
probe, said it could not confirm or deny the allegations.

"Cline told the Enquirer she went to prosecutors with information
about Limbaugh and others after four years of drug deals that included
clandestine handoffs in a Denny's parking lot.

"She said she wore a wire during her last two deliveries to the
conservative commentator and gave the tapes to authorities. She also
gave the Enquirer a ledger documenting how many pills she claimed to
have bought for him -- 4,350 in one 47-day period -- and E-mails she
claimed Limbaugh sent her." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake