Bomb squad determines suspicious package delivered to Rush Limbaugh was 'business opportunity'

PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office bomb squad was called to the Palm Beach home of Rush Limbaugh when a "suspicious package" was delivered Thursday afternoon.

After evacuating a portion of the property, police learned the package was nothing more than a "business opportunity" from a Pennsylvania fan, according to authorities.

The conservative talk-show host lives on the northern end of the island.

According to Palm Beach police, no one was expecting the package, so Limbaugh's staff put the 18 by 18-inch package through an on-site X-ray machine in the guest house.

Staffers didn't know what it was, but thought it had the potential to be dangerous.
 
"Some type of a plaque that was electronic in nature. Something to do with the assassination of President Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth," Palm Beach Police Department Spokesperson Fred Hess said.
 
The package arrived Thursday around 4:30 p.m. and was reportedly sent from Wexford, Pennsylvania. Police were able to contact the sender who then apologized for sending something that could be construed as being dangerous.

"Something about selling this product. Apparently it was a sample sent, according to the sender, to Mr. Limbaugh saying 'Here's an opportunity and maybe we can market something like this, ' " Hess said.

Only the guest house was evacuated as the bomb squad moved in.

More than three hours later the official 'all clear' was given.

"It was scary. A little scary, but it was a false alarm..." said nearby resident Maura Christu.

Limbaugh was home during the incident, according to police.  

"In Palm Beach, people tend to be very cautious. The same thing that would go in another municipality and everyone would say 'Oh look, we got something in the mail.' Here people are cautious," said Hess.

Police aren't releasing any more details about exactly what type of electronics device was in the package, or the name of the sender, since no crime was committed.

Limbaugh, through his staff, thanked emergency crews for their prompt response and called the incident a "non-event."