RUSH LIMBAUGH AGREES TO RANDOM DRUG TESTS IN DEAL ON PRESCRIPTION FRAUD

Rush Limbaugh signed an agreement with prosecutors Monday and then
took to the airwaves to say he felt relieved and vindicated to have an
investigation into his use of prescription drugs finally over.

For the next 18 months, while he is under state supervision, he can't
own a gun, must submit to random drug tests, can't use "intoxicants to
excess" and must remain gainfully employed, according to the agreement
that ended a 3 1/2-year investigation by Palm Beach County
prosecutors.

Limbaugh, 55, a Palm Beach resident, surrendered at the Palm Beach
County Jail on Friday afternoon on a felony doctor-shopping charge
alleging he obtained overlapping prescriptions in 2003 from more than
one doctor. He was fingerprinted, photographed and released on $3,000
bail.

If Limbaugh completes all the terms of his supervision, the criminal
charge will be dismissed and his record will be clean. He can't break
the law, and he can report to his Florida Department of Corrections
case officer by mail rather than in person, according to the
agreement. He also must pay $30,000 toward the cost of the
investigation and $30 monthly in supervision costs.

Limbaugh does not even have to appear in court -- the "pre-trial
intervention" agreement doesn't require it.

Palm Beach County Judge Nelson Bailey, who founded the county's drug
court, said defendants in diversion programs don't necessarily have to
appear in court.

"A PTI agreement is between the prosecutor and the defendant and his
lawyer. It does not involve the court. Normally, people end up making
a court appearance, but it is not required," said Bailey, who
addressed court procedures and not the Limbaugh case
specifically.

Prosecutors say it is routine for first-time drug offenders to enter a
diversion program. Limbaugh entered a not-guilty plea in the case, as
is typical, and he maintained his innocence Monday, saying he did not
engage in doctor shopping.

"From my point of view, the end result will be as if I had gone to
court and won, but the matter is concluded much sooner, and at much
less expense for both me and for the public," Limbaugh said during his
afternoon radio show, adding that the case cost him thousands of hours
of his time and millions of dollars in legal fees.

The investigation became public in October 2003, and Limbaugh admitted
to an addiction and checked himself into a five-week rehabilitation
program. He has been seeing a psychologist for addiction treatment and
must continue to do so under the agreement. Limbaugh said Monday that
he already has been undergoing random drug checks.

"I have not failed one yet. Folks, I haven't even craved a pain pill
since I got out of rehab. I"ve not even had a dream about one. It's
long ago. It's not even relevant. It doesn't even come up in my
thinking or in my mind," Limbaugh said.