Posted on 06/19/2004 6:38:37 AM PDT by Kuksool
CHICAGO -- Senate candidate Jack Ryan decided Friday not to appeal a California court's order unsealing potentially embarrassing child-custody records stemming from his 1995 divorce from television actress Jeri Lynn Ryan.
Ryan said in a statement he and his former wife were "disturbed and angered" by the decision Thursday from Judge Charles Schniderof Superior Court in Los Angeles.
"But after reviewing all of our options, we have decided, as a family, not to appeal the judge's ruling," the Republican candidate said.
"Accordingly, we have instructed our attorneys to indicate to Judge Schnider that we do not intend to appeal his decision and we would like to move as quickly as possible to put this behind us," he said.
The release of the child-custody records could deliver a powerful blow to Ryan's campaign against Democrat Barack Obama for the U.S. Senate seat being opened by the retirement of Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, R-Ill.
It also is embarrassing to Illinois Republicans already stung by corruption that investigators found in the administration of former Gov. George Ryan, who is now facing federal racketeering charges. He is not related to Jack Ryan.
Schnider said making the records public would prove harmful to Ryan's 9-year-old son, Alex, and could prove embarrassing to the former investment banker and teacher. But he said the public deserved to know the contents. Local media outliets had asked the court to unseal the records.
Schnider stayed his order until June 28 to give the parties a chance to appeal.
Ryan spent Monday morning shoring up support among top Republicans, speaking by phone with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and Virginia Sen. George Allen, chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, Pascoe said.
"They expressed support for his continued candidacy," he said.
Frist press secretary Nick Smith said the chat between the two men "was a private conversation and we're not going to have any comment."
Rumors about what is in the documents have been circulating since before the March 16 primary.
Ryan has repeatedly assured GOP leaders the files contain nothing embarrassing enough to torpedo his bid for the Senate. But he tempered that a bit on Monday, telling reporters at a news conference: "Is there anything in there that might be embarrassing to me? Maybe. But that's not the criterion."
He said Monday, as he has all along, that he has no problem with the public seeing anything pertaining to him but he would try to block any disclosure that would threaten the well-being of his son.
Meanwhile, Illinois Republicans reacted cautiously.
Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., said Friday he and House Speaker Dennis Hastert have urged Ryan to make the documents public and get the questions behind him. He said it was too soon to speculate about whether Ryan should pull out of the race.
"I think that's way, way premature, and I think it's very presumptuous of anyone," the Peoria congressman said. "I would not suggest that at all."
State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, chairman of the big DuPage County Republican Party, said "we should wait and see what happens to be in whatever records the court is going to open." He said it was important to release the papers sooner rather than later.
State Republican leaders asked the Republican National Committee recently whether they had the authority to name a replacementcandidate if Ryan decided to withdraw, according to a GOP source speaking only on condition of anonymity. The source said the RNC told them the state party did have such authority.
State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, the Illinois Republican chairman, was traveling and not available for comment, spokesman Jason Gerwig said.
Fitzgerald said Friday afternoon he doubted release of the documents would hurt Ryan all that much.
"I don't think anything negative will compute with the public, with all the good things people know about Jack," Fitzgerald said.
Republican National Committee member Robert Kjellander said any talking of Ryan withdrawing from the ticket would be "very premature."
"I just think we have to wait and see what's there and then we'll deal with it," Kjellander said.
Typical Rat judge. Everything is "for the children", unless, of course, it is the child of a Republican, and you can help the Dems gain power by harming them.
It's amazing. The judge admits releasing this information will harm a 9-year old child; both parties to the divorce do not want the information released; but because releasing the information will help a Dem and hurt a Republican, the judge is willing to ignore the clear mandate in California family law that the best interest of the child is to be the primary deciding factor, and release the information anyway.
With all due respect I don't think so. Not when his communist principles are outed (and the Republicans better do just that). And the downstate RATS will abandon this commie POS because they still like their guns1. He'll take Crook County but that's about it.
1; Obama is for CONFISCATION of all guns.
The force behind the drive to smear Jack Ryan is the Chicago Tribune, a subsidiary of the LA Times. I am amazed how concerned the Chicago Tribune is about the "public's right to know" in regards to Jack Ryan when the same newspaper refuses to tell readers about Kerry and Obama's far left voting records or Jesse Jackson's shakedown tactics. The Chicago Tribune is nothing but a press release agent for the Daley Machine.
If both parents wanted these records kept private who is in the CA courts forcing this issue, the Demoncrats?
I see your answer in post#6. The LA Slimes? Unbelievable.
If Jack Ryan cannot beat Barack Obama in Illinois, I am going to have to go back and reread my Tom Clancy novels. I must have missed something.
I have no idea since I am not in Illinois but what kind of name is Barack Obama? Does he wear a turban?
It was known before the primaries that this was coming, yet the GOP primary voters still selected him. Stupid choices have consequences.
Hard to believe that any state GOP can select such duds. If he'd only stayed married to Jeri (and how tough is that, really?) and trotted her out, it would be senator Ryan.
I believe Jeri Ryan wanted to move to Hollywood to pursue her acting career, but Jack Ryan for some reason, insisted on staying in Chicago.
Is there any chance that Ryan could be persuaded to drop out of the race? He's clearly a damaged candidate. If Bob Torcelli could drop out after the filing deadline, then Ryan can drop out before.
I don't know. Our primaries are in March. They are way too early. Frankly, most IL voters don't know who Jack Ryan and Obama are. We might get away with it if it were legal. If Ryan can be dumped, then I nominate Jim Oberweis.
In the original plan, the RNC wanted Jack Ryan because he could self finance his campaign and make the RATS spend lots of money on this Senate race. However thanks to Ryan, the RATS wouldn't have to make a significant investment on IL. The DNC is able to allocate more resources to CO, OK, and FL.
I believe the Chicago Tribune demanded the records under the Freedom of Information Act.
Why someone's divorce documents would fall under this act's authority is beyond me.
Jack Ryan could legally withdraw from the race until September. If he did, the Republican State Central Committee (19 members, one from each Congressional district) would select his replacement.
As usual the "right to privacy" doesn't apply to Republicans, especially if they're running for public office. Not even for the good of the children(sarcasm on).
The tyranny of men in black robes continues.
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