THE RUSH LIMBAUGH SHOW Issues Demand Letter to the DCCC Over Alleged False Claims

According to a letter from The RUSH Limbaugh Show, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is liable for allegedly distributing "deliberately and deceptively" edited RUSH Limbaugh comments about sexual assault to create a false meaning in an attempt to damage his radio program and the small businesses that communicate with his audience. This, according to a letter delivered to the DCCC today by Limbaugh attorney Patricia Glaser of Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro, is the basis for Limbaugh's demand of an immediate retraction and public apology. The letter indicates Limbaugh's intent to pursue litigation against the DCCC for defamation and interference.

According to the letter, on September 17th 2014 and thereafter, the DCCC allegedly made and distributed knowingly false and defamatory statements by editing ten of Limbaugh's words from a broadcast to claim that they meant the exact opposite of the totality of his on-air monologue. To make matters exponentially worse, the DCCC allegedly stated, falsely, that Mr. Limbaugh "excus[es] rape on college campuses," "is advocating a tolerance of rape," and "perpetuate[s] a culture of sexual assault." These statements, allegedly made to raise funds for Democratic Congressional candidates, were without factual support, based on the DCCC's own misrepresentation of Limbaugh's words, and add additional causes of action to litigation against the DCCC.

"To lie about RUSH Limbaugh's words as a fundraising method, under the color of authority of the Democratic Party, is a 'tactic' that is disrespectful to the general public, and to the twenty million people that choose to listen to RUSH each week," according to Limbaugh spokesperson Brian Glicklich. "And the Members of Congress who stood to gain from these false claims represent many of the small businesses across America that they deliberately interfered with, in furtherance of rankly partisan objectives."

According to Limbaugh attorney Patty Glaser, "The DCCC may believe it to be immune from liability by quoting words, taken out of context. This is untrue. There is significant on point precedent in the 9th Circuit for holding an organization responsible for falsifying meaning through selective quoting," Glaser said. "In Price v. Stossel, the Court held that, if a party accurately quotes 'a statement actually made by a public figure, but presents the statement in a misleading context, thereby changing the viewer's understanding of the speaker's words,' that constitutes defamation." Price v. Stossel, 620 F.3d 992 (9th Cir. 2010).

This is not the first time the DCCC has attempted to damage the business and reputation of their opposition through false and actionable claims. In 2012, the DCCC admittedly "made unsubstantiated allegations" against Sheldon Adelson, "a supporter of the opposing party," accusing him of illegal conduct. The DCCC later acknowledged that "[the] statements were untrue and unfair," and "[t]his was wrong." On August 2, 2012, the DCCC issued a retraction and public apology to Sheldon Adelson for having defamed him.

Limbaugh additionally demanded in his letter that the DCCC preserve all records in anticipation of a lawsuit for defamation and interference. The letter is available at http://www.docstoc.com/docs/173075879/Rush%20Limbaugh%20Letter%20to%20the%20Democratic%20Congressional%20Campaign%20Committee.

About The RUSH Limbaugh Show:

Nationally Syndicated by Premiere Networks, The RUSH Limbaugh Show is heard on nearly 600 stations by more than 20 million people each week. It's the highest rated national radio talk show in America. Please visit www.RushLimbaugh.com for more information.

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