Rush Limbaugh Turns Himself In on Fraud Charges, Reaches Settlement
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh and prosecutors in the long-running painkiller fraud case against him have reached a deal calling for the only charge against the conservative commentator to be dropped if he continues treatment…. Limbaugh was booked on a single charge that was filed Friday, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Jail. He left about an hour later, after Limbaugh was photographed and fingerprinted and he posted $3,000 bail, Barbera said.
No, I’m not going to ridicule Rush Limbaugh for being a drug addict. His addiction to prescription pain killers is a “there but for the grace of God….” moment. What is fair game is Limbaugh’s “holier than thou” attitude. To say that Limbaugh deserves his comeuppance would be a distinct understatement. It’s good to see Limbaugh finally being called to account for his behavior. Would it be too much to expect something resembling humility from the chief apologist for Republican corruption and excess?
Uh..yeah…probably.
The radio giant’s agreement to enter a diversionary program ends a three-year state investigation that began after Limbaugh publicly acknowledged being addicted to pain medication and entered a rehabilitation program.
Prosecutors accuse him of “doctor shopping,” or illegally deceiving multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions. They learned that he received about 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors in six months, at a pharmacy near his Palm Beach mansion.
Limbaugh pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge of fraud to conceal information to obtain prescriptions. Though he steadfastly denies doctor shopping, the charge will be dismissed in 18 months if Limbaugh complies with court guidelines, his lawyer Roy Black said.
Given that Limbaugh’s career depends on his being a bombastic, know-it-all, Right-wing blowhard, it’s unlikely that his public persona will change. Limbaugh will no doubt still continue to act as if the world would be a better place if everyone though more like him. He’ll continue to act as if he has all of the answers. He’ll continue pushing the pretense that Republicans walk on water. And the sheeple who are his devoted followers will continue to regard him as some sort of political savant, a man with all the answers and who’s willing to take on those clueless, idiot Liberals.
No, most likely Limbaugh will not change his stripes. What his drooling, knuckle-dragging followers will have to keep in mind, though, is that there hero is now an admitted felon. THAT ought to do good things for his credibility, eh??
