Posted on 11/07/2007 8:27:25 AM PST by trumandogz
KANKAKEE, Ill. — Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan left his home early today for the 255-mile trip to the federal correction center where he will serve his 6 1/2 -year sentence for corruption.
Ryan waved to reporters waiting for his departure to Oxford, Wis., and looked up at helicopters hovering overhead, but did not answer any questions shouted to him as he climbed into the front seat of a van to begin the trip. He was accompanied by his wife and other family members.
The pharmacist-turned-governor, who gained international acclaim for his opposition to the death penalty, has said he will fight to clear his name even while sitting in prison.
"Tomorrow I embark on a new journey in my life. I do so with a firm faith in God and the support and faith of my family," Ryan said Tuesday night, surrounded by his wife, Lura Lynn, his children and other friends.
But first, a somber Ryan, his wife and the rest of their traveling party stopped for coffee in a Chicago pancake house this morning.
"I don't think he was in the mood to be asked why he didn't have pancakes," said Craig Arrigoni, the general manager of the Original House of Pancakes.
Ryan, 73, was ordered to report to prison after an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected. "But I do so with a clear conscience. And I have said since the beginning of this 10-year ordeal that I am innocent and I intend to prove that," Ryan said.
Former Gov. James Thompson, Ryan's chief defense counsel, said he was not surprised by U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' decision not to grant bail while Ryan continues to press his case before the nation's highest court.
"We knew that our petition for bail was a long shot," he told reporters at a news conference. But Thompson said he would go ahead and try to get the Supreme Court to consider Ryan's appeal.
Ryan must report today to the minimum-security prison camp, located about 60 miles north of Madison. It has space for 206 inmates in four wings, said Mike Truman, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington. It is in a mostly rural area with land set aside nearby for waterfowl habitat.
Ryan's typical work day will begin at 7:30 a.m. and include duties such as mopping floors, cleaning toilets, raking leaves, cutting grass, painting and shoveling snow, Truman said.
Ryan was convicted of steering big-money state contracts to friends, using state money and state workers to run his campaigns and killing an investigation of bribes paid for truck driver's licenses.
The six children who were burned to death because of the truck driver who should never have had a license.
George Ryan deserves to die in prison.
No term-limits in Illinois. : )
Good riddance. RINO Ryan and his anti-death penalty nonsense stirred up so many bad memories for victims. It would be perfect if Ryan spent his final days behind bars.
cant they get someone name Daley to join him? I mean there is none more crooked than that family of scoundrels.
Perhaps it is time to build one very large Politician’s Prison. We can send all our corrupt elected officials to that one very large prison someplace in far North Alaska. (I am sure Sen. Stevens would like to get that pork and and future residence in his home state)
I am not sure if the Prison Gangs would be formed along Party Lines or by the type of crime committed. A Democrat v. Republican Brawl in the Yard would be fun to see but then again the Bribe Takers against the Perverts would be a blast as well.
Camper.
In New Jersey there is a bill before the Legislature to require all public officials to be indicted during their swearing-in ceremonies, in order to move things along.
So long crook, see ya in 6 years.
That really sounds a bit harsh and perhaps a violation of the 8th Amendment. I think that politicians should just be limited to cleaning the prison toilets.
Thank you for mentioning that.
After all this reporting on Ryan’s feeling, we never hear how the Willis’ must be feeling as they look at pictures of their six dead children and hear George Ryan talk about his “clear conscience”.
It’s okay, George. The prison yard is a “gun free” zone. You’ll be safe.
Do they also have to give DNA samples?
For the Democrats, DNA samples are readily available, as it turns out...
I didn’t look up the story because it is such a horrific one.
It depresses me every time I think about those poor parents.
Oops, forgot. You’re right.
Ryan going to prison bump and Original House Of Pancakes bump.
I've been to the OHP in Hyde Park at least 150 times.
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