Rush Limbaugh Turns Himself In On Fraud Charge In Rx Drug Probe

Limbaugh long has been, and remains, the biggest draw on talk radio. His weekday program is syndicated to nearly 600 AM and FM stations around the country. Locally, he is heard on WMAL (570 AM) from noon to 3 p.m. Limbaugh also is widely considered the most powerful conservative voice on the air, reaching perhaps 10 million people each week.

Although some analysts dismiss his influence, saying he appeals only to his like-minded "Dittoheads," his opinions on topics such as Supreme Court nominees and immigration reform often reflect the sentiments of the conservative base of the Republican Party.

Limbaugh's skeptical interview of Vice President Cheney about President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court helped fuel opposition to her, which led Miers to withdraw her nomination.

Limbaugh often is called "the man who saved AM radio." Since the late 1980s, he has been one of the most popular draws on the AM dial, invigorating a number of stations that had lost listeners to FM music stations.

The investigation into Limbaugh's drug purchases has been slowed by legal wrangling, as defense attorneys challenged search warrants and requests for medical records, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors previously had said Limbaugh received about 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors over six months, at a pharmacy near his Palm Beach mansion.

He has admitted being addicted to pain medications taken for back trouble and took a five-week leave from his broadcasting duties in 2003 to enter a rehabilitation program.

Limbaugh's leave of absence came after the National Enquirer reported that his use of painkillers was under investigation by Florida authorities. The story was based partly on an account of a former housekeeper at his estate.

Once back on the air, he said he was "powerless" to overcome his drug addiction without professional help, but vowed not to turn into "a linguine-spined liberal."

Staff writer Paul Farhi and research editor Lucy Shackelford contributed to this report.