The government has cobbled together a number of unrelated acts, innocent acts, that are nothing more than the fabric of what goes on in Illinois politics and Illinois government," the attorney said. "The government has taken these acts, has exaggerated them (and) has misinterpreted them, and I'm confident that when a jury hears this evidence, (Ryan) will be found not guilty."

Webb said jurors would be swayed by Ryan's testimony and his character -- his 40 years of public service and such accomplishments as seeking to reform a death penalty system that had put innocent men and women on Death Row.

Moreover, Webb said, jurors would see the ex-governor has no ill-gotten wealth to show for his alleged misdeeds. "The truth is, George Ryan is a man today (who) lives upon a pension and Social Security payments (and) lives from month to month to make ends meet," Webb said. "He has no assets, no stocks, no bonds. He has a modest house in Kankakee, Ill. That is not the financial picture of a person who has engaged in the conduct the government has alleged in its case."