LIMBAUGH JUDGE HINTS AT TURNOVER OF RECORDS

WEST PALM BEACH -- Some of Rush Limbaugh's medical records may be in
the hands of prosecutors this week, jump-starting anew the criminal
investigation of the conservative talk-show king and ending his 19-
month battle to reclaim them.

A judge indicated during a hearing Tuesday that he's nearly done
reviewing the seized records. Circuit Judge Thomas Barkdull III
asked for evidence bags for the records' transport. "Three of them," he said.

Barkdull said nothing about what portion of Limbaugh's records he
would put into evidence.

Limbaugh's lawyers were in court Tuesday fighting to restrict who in
the state attorney's office will view them. Attorney Roy Black asked
that just a few prosecutors and investigators be allowed access and
talked of holding them in contempt if they publicly disclose what
they see in the records.

Assistant State Attorney James Martz said that was like letting a
suspect pick his prosecutors and investigators. Martz said he could
launch into a list of agencies and investigators he may consult, but
that would reveal too much of his criminal investigation.

Barkdull later denied Limbaugh's request.

Limbaugh has been under investigation since his housekeeper told the
State Attorney's Office of prescription drug abuse. Investigators
visited area pharmacies and seized Limbaugh's medical records from
three doctors' offices in late 2003, not long after Limbaugh's public
admission that he was addicted.

Prosecutors cited possible doctor-shopping, a felony, when they got a
search warrant to seize his medical records.

The records have been sealed, though, for 19 months as Limbaugh
argued unsuccessfully all the way to the Florida Supreme Court that
the seizure was a violation of his privacy rights.

Limbaugh, 54, of Palm Beach, has not been charged with any crime.

Black said both in and out of court Tuesday that he wants to limit
who sees the records because the case has turned into a "soap opera"
complete with leaks to news media. The prosecutors are not to be
trusted with the information they see there, Black told reporters afterwards.

Some of the records certainly will land with prosecutors, though, and
Limbaugh is feeling horrible about that, he said.

"Nobody wants their intimate medical problems broadcast to the
state. I mean, it's the ultimate invasion of privacy," Black said.