LIMBAUGH ACCUSER HAS CRIMINAL RECORD

David Cline Served Time For Identify Theft, Cocaine Trafficking

The man who claims, along with his wife, that he provided Rush Limbaugh
with an illegal supply of painkilling drugs for four years has a criminal
record.

David Cline was arrested in Palm Beach County in April 2000, during the
time he and his wife Wilma allege they were buying thousands of pills for
the radio star, the Palm Beach Post reported. He was charged with identity
theft, having a counterfeit or stolen driver license and a false vehicle
registration, possessing marijuana and resisting arrest.

The paper said David Cline ended up with a combined sentence of time
served, 18 months probation, community service and court costs.

In 1982, Cline was arrested for cocaine trafficking in Collier County,
Fla., the Post said. He skipped bond, according to the paper, and lived as
a fugitive in New York and Fort Lauderdale under assumed names until he
surrendered in 1989. He was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.

Limbaugh, the most listened-to radio talk-show host in history, is under
investigation by Palm Beach County prosecutors, the National Enquirer
reported this week.

The probe was confirmed by numerous news agencies, including the Associated
Press.

The drug allegations came on the heels of the embattled radio star's
resignation from ESPN for his comment that a black star football player is
overrated by the media
(http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34910).

The supermarket tabloid reported Wilma Cline, 42, who served as a
housekeeper, said Limbaugh went through detox twice and was addicted to the
highly potent prescription drugs OxyContin, Lorcet and hydrocodone. Cline
said she handed over information to Palm Beach County, Fla., prosecutors,
who reportedly have given her and her husband immunity.

According to the Enquirer story, the Clines claim they sold Limbaugh 11,900
tablets over six months in 2001. They said they eventually got nervous,
however, and contacted noted Miami criminal defense lawyer Edward Shohat,
who took them to Palm Beach County prosecutor James Martz late last year.

Shohat is known for his defense of narcotics dealers, including Colombian
drug lord Carlos Lehder.

Under immunity, prosecutors used the Clines to arrest Louis and Gloria
Beshara last May. The Besharas are believed to be the source of the Clines'
illegal supply.

The National Enquirer's Editor-in-Chief David Perel has not said whether he
paid the Clines for the story, but acknowledged the tabloid has a regular
practice of paying for interviews.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel quoted a defense attorney, Michael Salnick,
who said the Clines might have credibility issues that would weaken the
case against Limbaugh, because they spoke with the Enquirer before the
investigation concluded.

'Trust Me On This'

Meanwhile, Limbaugh spoke briefly about the drug allegations in the opening
monologue of his much-anticipated program yesterday.

"I don't yet know what I'm dealing with here, folks," he said. "When I get
all the facts, when I get all the details of this, rest assured I will
discuss this with you and tell you how it is."

Limbaugh said he was tempted to respond to what is being reported about the
allegations in the press, but would not at this time.

"Trust me. It makes no sense for me to go there," he said. "Trust me on this."

President Bush expressed support Thursday for Limbaugh to his top staff,
according to the Drudge Report, calling him a "great American," who has
championed the conservative movement for decades.

"I am confident he can overcome any obstacles he faces right now," the
president reportedly said.

Rush Limbaugh On ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown"

The Enquirer, according to the Drudge Report, is considering releasing
Internet audio tapes of Limbaugh made by the former housekeeper, who said
authorities gave her a wire to record conversations during her last two
deliveries of pills.

It is unlikely she would be able to release such recordings, however, and
covertly recorded tapes made on her own would be restricted under Florida's
tough wiretap laws.

More To Come?

The Enquirer's Perel said the Limbaugh story dates back about two years,
according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The editor said the tabloid's network of sources and informants provided
the first tips about the radio personality's alleged drug dependency.

He maintained, however, it was not until several weeks ago that the network
came up with new leads that allowed him to publish the story, the Atlanta
paper reported.

He promises more to come about Limbaugh.

"We're going to detail more sources in future stories," Perel told the
paper. "There's a lot more of the story to tell."

The former Washington Post sports editor insists he has no political or
ideological axe to grind, claiming he's a conservative who votes Republican
"all the time.