Posted on 04/17/2006 9:03:49 AM PDT by Petruchio
News broadcast says the verdict is in. Will be read shortly.
(CBS) CHICAGO A verdict has been reached in the trial of George Ryan. The judge is expected to read the verdict at 11AM. Stand by for a live stream of CBS 2 News coverage.
Former Gov. George Ryan was charged with running state government for the profit of his friends, family and himself, and with trying to cover up a bribes-for-licenses scandal that ultimately led to his indictment.
The 18-count indictment alleged that for more than a decade, as secretary of state and then governor, Ryan took payoffs, gifts and vacations in return for letting associates profit from steering government contracts and leases. He was charged with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, making false statements to investigators, tax fraud and filing false tax returns.
Prosecutors alleged that Ryan gave lobbyist and co-defendant Larry Warner all but free reign to see that leases and contracts in the secretary of state's office went to Warner's clients and that cash collected from state vendors and landlords was then funneled back to Ryan.
Defense attorney Dan Webb said there was no proof that Ryan ever took bribes. Ryan, who was a dedicated public servant and a humble former pharmacist, had no savings and couldn’t even afford to re-decorate his Kankakee home, Webb said.
The defense claimed the contracts and leases Ryan approved were good for taxpayers and the trips and cash he received were simply gifts.
Ryan, 72, a Republican known worldwide as a leading critic of the death penalty, gradually became the focus of the corruption investigation that began even before his 1998 election as governor. The growing scandal was a factor in Ryan's 2001 decision not to seek a second term.
The charges grew out of the federal government's Operation Safe Road, which initially focused on bribes exchanged for drivers licenses but over seven years expanded into a full-blown investigation of political corruption when Ryan was secretary of state and later governor.
In November 1994, a Wisconsin expressway fiery accident killed six children of the Rev. Scott and Janet Willis. The accident has been blamed on a truck driver whose license may have been obtained with payoff money from a woman raising Ryan campaign funds.
That incident touched off the federal license for bribes probe that eventually led to Ryan’s indictment.
Cool, Thanks for posting this.
announcement will be delayed a bit,, still waiting for lawyers for both sides to arrive.. courtroom is packed.
Live Video coverage at the Federal Courthouse
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_107111835.html
Throw the bum in jail!
LOL!
They are scrambling to fill time. Just interviewed an assistant on how they will get out the verdict news . . .
George Ryan muscled laws through the legislature that were aimed at criminalizing honest gun owners.
Lose the tagline.
And, emptied Death Row.
Yeah, but he was heroic when he spared all those murderers from the death penalty. (sarcasm)
.
Count 1 GUILTY!!!
All counts GUILTY!
Both Defendants Guilty..
ALL Counts!!!
Oucharoonie!!!
Ryan guilty on all counts. Larry Warner too.
Sweet!
How about updating the title?
Wonder when Ryan will start to flip to get Club Fed priveleges? How many Illinois Rublicrats will he drag down??
buh bye Judy, Blago, Mikey, Richie...
I get it (former ditty rat USMC)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.