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Rush Limbaugh and the ACLU
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Feb 5 21:30 UTC 2006 |
Backing Limbaugh, ACLU goes to court
By Jill Barton, Associated Press, 1/13/2004
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Rush Limbaugh and the American Civil Liberties
Union do not agree about much, but they are in accord that the
conservative radio commentator's medical records should be off-limits to
prosecutors.
The Florida ACLU filed court papers yesterday supporting Limbaugh's
argument that investigators violated his constitutional right to privacy
when they seized his medical records in November to investigate whether
he violated drug laws when he purchased prescription painkillers.
"It may seem odd that the ACLU has come to the defense of Rush
Limbaugh," the state chapter's executive director, Howard Simon, said in
a statement. "But we have always said that the ACLU's real client is the
Bill of Rights, and we will continue to safeguard the values of
equality, fairness, and privacy for everyone, regardless of race,
economic status, or political point of view."
State Attorney Barry Krischer had no comment on the ACLU's involvement.
Spokesman Mike Edmondson said prosecutors have followed state laws and
have protected Limbaugh's rights throughout the investigation. Limbaugh
has not been charged with a crime.
Prosecutors say they cannot continue their investigation until they
review Limbaugh's medical records, which have been sealed since Dec. 23.
Limbaugh's lawyers have asked an appeals court to keep the records
sealed past a Jan. 23 deadline set by the circuit court.
Investigators went after the records and said they found that Limbaugh
received more than 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors in six
months, at a pharmacy near his Palm Beach mansion. Limbaugh's former
maid told investigators she had been supplying him prescription
painkillers for years.
Limbaugh argues that the investigation is politically motivated, an
allegation that prosecutors deny. Roy Black, Limbaugh's lawyer, says the
records would prove only that Limbaugh suffered from a serious medical
condition and was prescribed painkillers.
Limbaugh admitted his addiction in October, saying it stemmed from
severe back pain. He took a five-week leave from his afternoon radio
show to enter a rehabilitation program.
(From
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/01/13/backing_limbaugh_ac
lu_goes_to_court/ or this TinyURL: http://tinyurl.com/3eh7v )
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klg
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response 3 of 70:
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Feb 5 22:12 UTC 2006 |
Rush probably neither needs nor wants the assistance of the Anti
CiviLization Union. (Note the date. This is old, old, news.)
By the way, in more current news, Federal Special Prosecutor Patrick
Fitzgerald, it has been reported, never looked into the matter as to
whether supposed CIA sleuth Valerie Plame Wilson was actually a covert
agent. Therefore, he did not know whether it would have been a crime if
any person had identifed her or blown her cover. If true, this shows
that his entire investigation was, in fact, a fishing expedition
(politically or personally motivated??) and it is Fitzgerald, himself,
who ought to be investigated for prosecutorial misconduct. Kafkesque,
indeed, don't you think?
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