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Limbaugh's Attorneys Discussed Backed Away From Plea Bargain With Prosecutors
Aired January 23, 2004 - 06:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, attorneys for Rush Limbaugh discussed a plea deal with prosecutors last month. But that has apparently fallen through, according to a source familiar with the case.
Our Susan Candiotti joins us live on the telephone from Miami with more on this.
Oh, not live on the telephone. There you are, Susan -- good to see you this morning.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm in person.
Hi, Fredricka.
Good morning to you.
Yes, it's an interesting development in the case and actually confirms something that CNN initially reported last month, quoting a spokeswoman for a public relations firm representing Rush Limbaugh. And that is that his attorneys have been in touch with the Palm Beach state attorney's office to discuss getting rid of the case, making it go away, and as that spokeswoman put it, taking responsibility for his actions.
Well, this development this day, the Florida "Sun Sentinel" newspaper obtained through a public records request correspondence, which amounts to letters that were exchanged, between Rush Limbaugh's attorney, Roy Black, and the Palm Beach County state attorney's office in which they are, in effect, discussing a plea deal.
It happened like this. Back on December the 11th, there was a letter from Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, to the state attorney saying, in effect, let's talk about a pre-trial intervention in which Mr. Limbaugh would not plead guilty to anything, but go through a drug treatment program, since he's already admitted that he's an addict to prescription painkillers and, in effect, make it go away.
The state attorney's office responded in a letter on December the 15th, in which it said well, here's what we suggest. Mr. Limbaugh would have to admit to a charge of doctor shopping, illegally shopping around for prescription painkillers, and then he would get three years probation, do some community service, as I said, beyond probation, and, in effect, it would then go away. The judge would withhold adjudication and eventually his record would be sealed.
But something happened after that and Limbaugh's attorneys backed away from the deal. And it's unclear exactly why.
Again, it's important to repeat and remind everyone that Mr. Limbaugh is not charged with any crime. He is under investigation for possibly getting his hands illegally on legal prescription painkillers. That investigation is still under way -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Susan Candiotti from Miami.
Thanks very much.
It will be interesting to see if they try to revisit some other type of plea deal.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Bargain With Prosecutors>
Aired January 23, 2004 - 06:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, attorneys for Rush Limbaugh discussed a plea deal with prosecutors last month. But that has apparently fallen through, according to a source familiar with the case.
Our Susan Candiotti joins us live on the telephone from Miami with more on this.
Oh, not live on the telephone. There you are, Susan -- good to see you this morning.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm in person.
Hi, Fredricka.
Good morning to you.
Yes, it's an interesting development in the case and actually confirms something that CNN initially reported last month, quoting a spokeswoman for a public relations firm representing Rush Limbaugh. And that is that his attorneys have been in touch with the Palm Beach state attorney's office to discuss getting rid of the case, making it go away, and as that spokeswoman put it, taking responsibility for his actions.
Well, this development this day, the Florida "Sun Sentinel" newspaper obtained through a public records request correspondence, which amounts to letters that were exchanged, between Rush Limbaugh's attorney, Roy Black, and the Palm Beach County state attorney's office in which they are, in effect, discussing a plea deal.
It happened like this. Back on December the 11th, there was a letter from Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, to the state attorney saying, in effect, let's talk about a pre-trial intervention in which Mr. Limbaugh would not plead guilty to anything, but go through a drug treatment program, since he's already admitted that he's an addict to prescription painkillers and, in effect, make it go away.
The state attorney's office responded in a letter on December the 15th, in which it said well, here's what we suggest. Mr. Limbaugh would have to admit to a charge of doctor shopping, illegally shopping around for prescription painkillers, and then he would get three years probation, do some community service, as I said, beyond probation, and, in effect, it would then go away. The judge would withhold adjudication and eventually his record would be sealed.
But something happened after that and Limbaugh's attorneys backed away from the deal. And it's unclear exactly why.
Again, it's important to repeat and remind everyone that Mr. Limbaugh is not charged with any crime. He is under investigation for possibly getting his hands illegally on legal prescription painkillers. That investigation is still under way -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Susan Candiotti from Miami.
Thanks very much.
It will be interesting to see if they try to revisit some other type of plea deal.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Bargain With Prosecutors>
