Gloria Allred Pushes for Prosecution of Rush

Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred is pushing for the prosecution of Rush Limbaugh after he called a Georgetown University law student a slut and a prostitute two weeks ago on his show.

But Allred isn’t pushing for the popular radio host to be prosecuted for hate speech, but instead for violating an obscure Florida law that prevents someone from challenging a woman’s “chastity” in public.

“Mr. Limbaugh targeted his attack on a young law student who was simply exercising her free speech and her right to testify before congress on a very important issue to millions of American women and he vilified her. He defamed her and engaged in unwarranted, tasteless and exceptionally damaging attacks on her,” Allred told Politico last week. “He needs to face the consequences of his conduct in every way that is meaningful.”

Allred, writing on behalf of the Women’s Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund, requested that Palm Beach County State Attorney Michael McAuliffe probe whether the conservative radio personality had violated Section 836.04 of the Florida Statutes by calling Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke the two derogatory words.

Allred had already gained notoriety this campaign season for Sharon Bialek, who accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment.

The Florida statute stipulates that anyone who “speaks of and concerning any woman, married or unmarried, falsely and maliciously imputing to her a want of chastity” is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. Allred told Politico that the statute recently came to her attention as having never been repealed, and that it could very well apply to Limbaugh’s remarks as his show is broadcast from West Palm Beach.

McAuliffe, who has authority to decide whether or not to purse the case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Politico.
Allred made it clear to Politico that she considers herself part of the larger economic campaign that is seeking to hurt Limbaugh by pushing his sponsors away.

“I understand why sponsors are abandoning Mr. Limbaugh in droves,” Allred said. “I think sponsors that remain with him are supporting him and providing commercial dollars to him and his program, condoning what he said.”

She added, “Hitting him economically is one price that he has to pay. He needs to be accountable in every way possible.”