WITHDRAWAL $YMPTOM

Conservative radio-show host Rush Limbaugh may be
in more big, fat trouble for possibly violating state money-laundering
laws while trying to hide the fact he was buying scores of painkillers
to feed his addiction.

Authorities said that during a probe of New York's U.S. Trust Bank two
years ago, they discovered that Limbaugh had made between 30 and 40
cash withdrawals from his account that each totaled just under
$10,000, ABC News reported last night.

Any time someone makes a single withdrawal of $10,000 or more from a
bank, the financial institution is required to report the activity to
the government.

"That in itself is a suspicious activity," money-laundering expert
Jack Blum told ABC News of withdrawals such as Limbaugh's.

Those who make them "are structuring their transaction to avoid
reporting to the government, and the bank is required to file with the
federal government something called a suspicious-activity report," he
said.

"Now the problem will be: Did [Limbaugh] . . . assist his drug
supplier in hiding the proceeds [drug money] from the
government?"

Limbaugh's lawyers admitted he made the withdrawals.

They said the bank offers a service that allows one of its own
employees to take out the cash for the client and then personally
deliver it to him or her, ABC said.

In Limbaugh's case, he would have the money - about $9,900 a pop -
delivered to him at his New York studios.

But the flamboyant radio host's lawyers said U.S. Trust suggested he
do it that way.

The bank has already paid a $10 million fine because of such
transactions involving Limbaugh and others, ABC said.

Limbaugh's lawyer, Roy Black, insisted his client was innocent, merely
the victim of enemies who want him off the air.

"There's no basis for these charges," Black told ABC.

"[Limbaugh] has not committed any acts of money laundering, and he
absolutely denies it.

"I can assure you - and Rush assures the listeners to his radio
station - when we can, we will tell the story, and he will tell it
himself. Everybody will see what has really gone on here," Black said.

If found guilty of money laundering, Limbaugh could face up to 30
years in jail.

He returned to the airwaves just Monday after admitting his addiction
and spending five weeks at a drug-rehab clinic.

Authorities will decide whether to prosecute Limbaugh on the
money-laundering charges in the next few weeks, ABC said.