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Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:01:50 AM EST
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Bump and Update: Jury selection is underway. Six jurors have been dismissed and opening arguments likely will begin Thursday.

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Original Post (9/18)

Former Illinois Governor George Ryan's federal corruption trial begins Monday.

Accused of doling out big-money state contracts and leases to political insiders, the 71-year-old veteran politician is scheduled to go to trial Monday, charged in a 22-count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, lying to the FBI and tax fraud.

It's another case of purchased testimony, testimony bought with promises of leniency. Freedom is a far more precious commodity than money. How's it looking for Gov. Ryan?

Just before leaving office, Ryan commuted the sentences of all 167 Illinois death row inmates to life and pardoned four men convicted of murder, saying evidence against them was unconvincing. He had earlier put a hold on state executions, citing a flawed system that sent 13 wrongfully convicted men to death row. That made Ryan a hero to capital punishment critics -- some of whom are now standing by his side.

"My assessment is that the government case relies entirely on witnesses of extremely dubious credibility whose testimony has been procured under extreme coercion," said Rob Warden, the executive director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University law school.

Add TalkLeft to the list of his supporters. We'll keep you posted on trial developments as they occur.

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    Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#1)
    by Steven Sanderson on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:00 PM EST
    Standing up for what's right takes a lot of courage and I admire people like George Ryan who do so. The culture of death zealots that Ryan defied are peeing all over themselves in excitement because of his predicament. If ignorance is indeed bliss, then they're mighty happy right about now.

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:00 PM EST
    Yes Ryan is one of the good guys but understand this nation is made up of zealots. sad fact 2005

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#3)
    by cpinva on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:00 PM EST
    understand also that we're talking about IL, a state where people are encouraged to vote early and often. while i certainly applauded gov. ryan's decision with respect to the death penalty, i have no illusions whatever about him as a politician. he may be completely innocent of all charges, i hope he is. before we canonize him, let's see what the evidence is.

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:00 PM EST
    Governor Ryan is a corrupt politician who had either: a) a spasm of conscience or b) made a cynical pr move to get good publicity. Given our local politics, I'll opt for the latter. try reading the chicago tribune today for the opposite side-a letter from the child of one of the victims of the murderers. Ryan lied to him. what a guy

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#5)
    by aw on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:00 PM EST
    A spasm of conscience. It can make up for a lot of things, in my opinion.

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:00 PM EST
    Cpinva beat me to it and I agree. I think its great that he communted the death sentences, but I have yet to be a supporter based on his actions. Lets see what comes out in the trial. He could be as crooked as a Republican and just hate capitol punishment. I can't support someone just because he's not on the right.

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:03 PM EST
    George Ryan is/was a republican. That is what makes it so interesting. As far as "man of conscience": he bucked the party line to do what he thought was right. Very unusual these days. And Charles, before you sling victim impact evidence at us, read the study done by the bi-partisan commission which recommended the commuting. There were a lot of conservatives on his side after seeing all the evidence of the innocents on death row.

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:03 PM EST
    Fred D.... Yes Ryan is one of the good guys>>> LMAO on that one! You obviously don't live in Illinois? Ryan is a crook and should be in jail. If there is any justice in this world...that's where he'll end up after this trial. Good luck indeed!

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#9)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:04 PM EST
    Part of what makes life hard is that a person you respect and admire for one thing can be a complete wretch in some other area. That truth will far outlast whatever verdict comes down.

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#10)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:04 PM EST
    Funny how some folks will overlook possible crimes, let alone cheer-lead thier cause because the accussed holds the same views about a particular subject. Gosh in the old South they used to call that the ol' boys network and we know how well that worked out historically for those that weren't of them right thinking folks. I really would have thought more of Talk Left.

    Re: Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan (none / 0) (#11)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:04 PM EST
    PPJ-guilty before trial, just like the 'terrorists'. You should move to Saudi Arabia or Egypt, where most share your views.

    Good Luck, Former IL Gov. George Ryan | 11 comments (11 topical)