Forum Settings
       
Reply To Thread

For the local boys: Ryan found guilty on all chargesFollow

#1 Apr 17 2006 at 12:34 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
Estate=4 wrote:
CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who drew international praise when he commuted the sentences of everyone on the state's death row, was convicted of racketeering and fraud Monday in a corruption scandal that ended his political career.

The verdict came after ten days of deliberations.

The jury's decision ends the state's biggest political corruption trial in decades, and draws a conclusion on the long career of a politician who gained international fame as a death penalty critic but left office in 2003 amid a widespread corruption scandal.

The charges stemmed from an eight-year investigation of corruption, starting at the drivers licensing bureau and eventually reaching the governor's office.

Ryan, 72, was indicted about a year after he left office. He was charged with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, obstructing the Internal Revenue Service, tax fraud and lying to the FBI, much of it from his time as secretary of state in the 1990s.

Prosecutors accused him of steering big-money state contracts and leases, including a $25 million IBM computer deal, to his friends and political insiders.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#2 Apr 17 2006 at 12:39 PM Rating: Good
*****
18,463 posts
It's a shame that his good acts seem to be clouded by this, but if he got what he deserved, then it's only fair. I can't claim to know that much about it.
#3 Apr 17 2006 at 1:39 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
The short version is that Ryan has had his fingers into various pies since his inital tenure as Sec. of State and extending into his term as governor. Contracts to friends and political allies, funneling money, tax fraud, etc.

The whole thing started to become exposed due to Ryan's office taking bribes from unqualified drivers for CDLs while Ryan was Sec. of State and channeled that cash into his campaign fund. One of the truck drivers with an illegal license crashed into a van and killed six children and it was discovered that his license was obtained via shady means. The resulting Federal probe is what uncovered everything else. Ryan's term ended before the charges were brought up but the scandal cased him not to run for a second term since he wasn't a tenable candidate and the whole thing is credited with the Democratic near-sweep of every statewide office except one in the last state elections.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4 Apr 17 2006 at 1:40 PM Rating: Good
*****
18,463 posts
He wasn't the guy married to Seven of Nine, was he? He looks like a fish.
#5 Apr 17 2006 at 1:53 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
No, that was Jack Ryan.

Apparently, "Ryan" isn't a good surname for politics unless you live in a Clancy novel.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#6 Apr 17 2006 at 2:00 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
****
5,677 posts
A very ugly chapter indeed for the Land of Lincoln. Let us hope the Human Hair Helmet continues to set things a'right, so long as he stops appearing on The Daily Show.
#7 Apr 17 2006 at 2:10 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
Indeed, Blagojevich's largest asset last election was his "I'm not George Ryan" platform. In fact, I assume his campaign this year will partially revolve around the "Topinka worked in the Ryan administration" platform.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#8 Apr 19 2006 at 1:48 PM Rating: Decent
Prodigal Son
******
20,643 posts
Give him the chair!
____________________________
publiusvarus wrote:
we all know liberals are well adjusted american citizens who only want what's best for society. While conservatives are evil money grubbing scum who only want to sh*t on the little man and rob the world of its resources.
#9 Apr 19 2006 at 8:43 PM Rating: Decent
****
4,158 posts
I thought it ineresting that attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, who conducted this prosecution, Patrick Fitzgerald, is also the special prosecutor in charge of the investigation into the leaking of the identity of the covert CIA operative, Valerie Plame Wilson.

Hope he does a good a job on the Karl Roves and Scooter Libbys in the Whitehouse. Thats if they havn't all resigned and scarpered off the sinking ship that is the Bush administration....Linky

I would think that there are quite a few clenched sphincters in Washington of late.
____________________________
"If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're gonna get selfish, ignorant leaders". Carlin.

Reply To Thread

Colors Smileys Quote OriginalQuote Checked Help

 

Recent Visitors: 185 All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (185)