LIMBAUGH SCOFFS AT INVESTIGATION INTO PAINKILLER USE

WEST PALM BEACH - Rush Limbaugh on Friday poked fun at the
investigation into whether he bought painkillers illegally, hours
after his attorney accused investigators of political motives.

The conservative radio host compared search warrants for his medical
records to calls for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean to
release political records from his years as Vermont governor.

"I bet you what, if I had been treated by Dr. Dean, I bet you
Democrats in certain parts of this country would be demanding his
records," Limbaugh said from his South Florida studio.

Palm Beach investigators recently obtained search warrants for the
offices of Limbaugh's doctors and alleged Thursday that Limbaugh
engaged in illegal drug use and went "doctor shopping" for
prescription painkillers.

His brief reference to the investigation came during his three-hour
broadcast, which he has used over past weeks to defend himself.

Earlier Friday, Limbaugh attorney Roy Black accused the Palm Beach
state attorney of investigating Limbaugh only for political reasons.
Black said Limbaugh was not a target of State Attorney Barry
Krischer's investigation until the National Enquirer quoted Limbaugh's
maid in October saying she had unlawfully sold Limbaugh such
medications.

"Suddenly an elected public official could not ignore the name Rush
Limbaugh," Black said on NBC's "Today" show. Black is also a paid
NBC commentator. "They are looking to publicly embarrass him and
affect his radio program. ... Why is Rush Limbaugh the only person
treated like this in America?"

Krischer's spokesman Mike Edmondson said Friday that the prosecutor
stands by an earlier statement that Limbaugh's rights have been
scrupulously protected.