LIMBAUGH LINKED TO PALM BEACH COUNTY PRESCRIPTION DRUG INQUIRY

Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh illegally purchased addictive
prescription drugs, according to allegations made in a Palm Beach County
drug-trafficking investigation.

Limbaugh's former housekeeper at his Palm Beach mansion and her handyman
husband told authorities that they supplied Limbaugh with OxyContin,
hydrocodone and other addictive prescription drugs between 1998 and 2002,
said two sources close to the inquiry. They confirmed media reports that
Wilma and David Cline turned over e-mails as well as taped phone messages
documenting Limbaugh's alleged drug habit.

The sources said the Clines told the Palm Beach County State Attorney's
Office that Limbaugh bought the pills for his personal use. There is no
arrest pending based on what the Clines told prosecutors, according to the
sources.

On Thursday, Limbaugh, already surrounded by controversy that led to his
resignation the night before as an ESPN sports analyst, did not address the
drug abuse accusations in a speech before the National Association of
Broadcasters in Philadelphia. Limbaugh, whose radio program The Rush
Limbaugh Show is syndicated in more than 650 markets, instead issued a
three-sentence statement on his Web site.

"I am unaware of any investigation by any authorities involving me," he
said. "No governmental representative has contacted me directly or
indirectly. If my assistance is required in the future, I will, of course,
cooperate fully."

The allegations first were reported Thursday by the Boca Raton-based
National Enquirer, which had interviewed the Clines.

The Clines spent Thursday inside their Loxahatchee house with the curtains
drawn. David Cline emerged briefly about 7 p.m. but had little to say.

"What's printed, what's in the story, that's true," he said about the
Enquirer article. "I can't comment on the subject. Whatever's printed, I
stand behind that."

His words echoed those of the couple's Miami-based attorney, Ed Shohat. In
a brief statement, Shohat said his clients back the story and aren't giving
interviews.

The Enquirer reported that the Clines became Limbaugh's drug connection in
1998 after he asked David Cline for some painkillers that the handyman had
been taking for a recent fall. The Clines told the Enquirer that Limbaugh's
drug addiction soon spiraled out of control, with the couple constantly
funneling prescription painkillers, as many as 11,900 pills during a
four-month period.

Limbaugh told Wilma Cline at one point he needed the drugs because his left
ear was hurting, according to the Enquirer story. Limbaugh had surgery two
years ago to have an electronic device placed in his skull to restore his
hearing.

Assistant State Attorney James Martz, who is assigned to a task force
investigating prescription drug trafficking, said that as a matter of
policy he couldn't discuss whether Limbaugh's name has come to authorities'
attention.

Michael Edmondson, the State Attorney's Office spokesman, also declined to
comment.

The Enquirer story was released just as Limbaugh came under fire for saying
that the media overrated Philadelphia Eagles' Donovan McNabb because they
wanted to see a black quarterback succeed. The time of publication was a
coincidence, said David Perel, the Enquirer's editor-in-chief.

Limbaugh made the remarks about McNabb on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. On
Thursday, he offered no apology and spent only about two minutes of a
45-minute speech to the broadcasters talking about the controversy.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie on Thursday criticized the sports network for
hiring Limbaugh and called the commentator's comments "despicable."

"We thought we were long past this," Lurie said. "When you hire somebody
like that, this is what you're going to get. It wasn't a surprise. You get
what you hire."

The investigation into the distribution of prescription painkillers led to
the March arrest of suspended pharmacist Louis Beshara. Beshara, 60, faces
charges that he sold 2,000 pills of the narcotic painkiller hydrocodone to
a confidential informant and was caught with an additional 4,000
hydrocodone pills.

Sources said there are ties that appear to connect the Clines with the
Beshara investigation. Beshara's attorney, James Eisenberg, said Beshara
has never dealt with Limbaugh and doesn't know the Clines.

Local defense attorneys said that even if everything the Clines have said
is true, it doesn't mean prosecutors necessarily have a case against Limbaugh.

Almost all drug cases are based on someone getting caught with the drugs,
said former prosecutor Marc Shiner. He said there are some instances where
a defendant might leave a trail of criminal activity, such as prescription
fraud, that could lead to drug charges.

Defense attorney Michael Salnick also questioned whether the Clines may
have credibility issues because they spoke with the Enquirer before the
investigation concluded.

David Cline made local news three years ago when he was arrested for living
under a false name for years in what authorities said was an elaborate
attempt to avoid paying child support. Deputies caught Cline in May 2000
after his ex-wife tracked him down. He ended up pleading guilty to
unauthorized possession of a driver's license and three counts of title
fraud, agreeing to serve 18 months' probation.

Staff Writer Sam Tranum and The Associated Press contributed to this report.