GUILTY
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller CBS2 reports that both defendants, George Ryan and Larry Warner, are guilty on all counts. [I’ve reversed the order of the updates to put the most recent one at the top.] UPDATE 51: The final, final update (I hope). The Tribune’s editorial is already online. Through his actions and inactions, George Ryan essentially destroyed the Republican Party in Illinois. He also destroyed himself. UPDATE 50: OK, just one more. This post from another publication shows why predictions about this kind of stuff should be avoided by even the most astute observers (and they have some good ones over there): [The chance that] George Ryan is found guilty on all counts: 5 percent. The volume of counts is a prosecution strategy, yet some reporters have taken the bait. UPDATE 49: That’s it for me for today. If you find any other updates, put them in the comments section. UPDATE 48: IIS: ISU expert says Ryan verdict not likely to result in more ethics reform (listen here)… Also, Mike Lawrence reacts (listen here). UPDATE 47: Crain’s: Jurors also indicated that deliberations were still in a preliminary phase when U.S. District Court judge Rebecca Pallmeyer dismissed two of them several weeks ago. That could be crucial because defense attorneys are almost certain to claim on appeal that Ms. Pallmeyer should have declared a mistrial rather than replacing the two jurors. UPDATE 46: TIME Magazine: Now that the verdict on Ryan is in, it is sure to play a role in this year’s gubernatorial race. Current Gov. Rod Blagojevich will likely say it proves that the Democrats are the only party capable of protecting the integrity of state government. Meanwhile his opponent, state treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, will probably argue that Blagojevich, whose administration is also being probed, is definitely not the man for that job. “We’ll see the commercials very soon,” said Roosevelt University political scientist Paul Green. “Each will manipulate this for their own purposes.” Just as history shows so many Illinois politicians, like Ryan, have done with their own elected positions. UPDATE 45: Fritchey Calls for Immediate Passage of Ethics Bill In the hours following the guilty verdict in the corruption trial of former Governor George Ryan, State Representative John Fritchey (D-Chicago) is calling for the immediate passage of House Bill 4073, legislation that would significantly reduce the corrupting influence of campaign contributions on the awarding of State contracts, commonly referred to as the “pay-to-play†system. An initiative of State Comptroller Dan Hynes, Rep. Fritchey introduced the bill over a year ago with bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly. UPDATE 44: Pat Collins: “Unless and until the state, city and county learn there are victims of corruption, there are tangible consequences of corruption, (and) unless and until people who vote understand that there are important consequences in their public officials’ acts of dishonesty, this system will not change.” UPDATE 43: Gov. Blagojevich has released another statement. This one is from the campaign. “The George Ryan convictions prove once more that a culture of corruption and mismanagement was tolerated during his Administration. It is further evidence that the old way of doing things cheated the people of Illinois. UPDATE 42: CBS2 has a lot of video links. UPDATE 41: Daily Herald: The specter of political lobbying followed Ryan even as he entered the federal building on the way to hear the verdict Monday. UPDATE 40: How do you think this impacts the fall campaign? UPDATE 39: From the Tribune: ![]() UPDATE 38: Tribune: House Republican leader Tom Cross, Oswego: “First of all, I think it’s a sad day for all of Illinois. It’s a huge black eye for our state, and it’s sad and disappointing.” UPDATE 37: No statement yet from Mayor Daley. Maybe nothing until tomorrow. UPDATE 36: NBC5 has a “brief list of notable Illinois politicians who have had run-ins with the law.” Use the comments to remind us of others. UPDATE 35: WBBM 780 reports that one heckler shouted, “Hey, George, enjoy your new address!” Ryan reportedly seemed confused at first, then stared back when he realized what the heckler meant. UPDATE 34: Whistleblower Tammy Raynor says she’s suprised by the verdict, according to 780. Didn’t expect guilty on all counts. Says she’s happy to be getting on with her life. UPDATE 33: Gov. Blagojevich was supposed to have a press conference at noon today, but he canceled it. UPDATE 32: CBS2’s feed is offline for now. Head to WBBM 780. UPDATE 31: CBS2: State politicians voiced their opinions today after former Gov. George Ryan was found guilty in his five-month corruption trial. UPDATE 30: Archpundit: Patrick Collins is a star who may well be the next Patrick Fitzgerald. UPDATE 29: All parties waived jury hearing on forfeiture. Will be determined by the judge. UPDATE 28: Pat Collins: Winston & Strawn had more people assigned to this case than the feds did. UPDATE 27: AP photos. UPDATE 26: Crain’s: The investigation played a major role in the 2002 gubernatorial election, with Democrat Rod Blagojevich arguing it was time to end a Republican culture of sleaze and restore ethics to state government. UPDATE 25: Ryan’s full statement. UPDATE 24: Tribune flash media history of Ryan’s long saga. UPDATE 23: Tribune photos. UPDATE 22: One of the G-Men just said that until voters wake up to corruption nothing will change in Illinois. UPDATE 21: AP: Customers at a tavern in former Governor George Ryan’s hometown of Kankakee say they’re shocked that a federal jury in Chicago found Ryan guilty of all the charges against him today. UPDATE 20: The Daily Herald has a list of the charges online (pdf file). UPDATE 19: Patrick Fitzgerald: “Charges involved were very serious and the corrupt conduct was very disturbing.” UPDATE 18: CBS2: As the two men stood in the bathroom of the Dirksen Federal Building, former Gov. George Ryan told CBS 2’s Jon Duncanson what he’s really disappointed with is the media. UPDATE 17: “Not hard at all” to restart deliberations, juror says. UPDATE 16: Prosecutors about to speak. UPDATE 15: CBS2 has spoken to a juror who wished that Ryan had testified on his own behalf. He also reportedly said there was “no smoking gun,” no one thing that convicted Ryan. He added that he “did not buy” Dan Webb’s description of Ryan as a hands-off governor. UPDATE 14: Alternate juror says he wasn’t aware of Ryan’s work on capital punishment. UPDATE 13: Jury forewoman says no juror was holding out for an innocent verdict during deliberations. “Not that I recall.” UPDATE 12: Rev. Scott Willis: “Gratefully surprised by the verdict.” UPDATE 11: Topinka statement: “Today is a sad day for Illinois. This trial and subsequent verdict exposed abuses of power, ethical lapses, failures in judgment, and a pattern of corruption in Illinois government. UPDATE 10: AP: “I believe this decision today is not in accordance with the kind of public service that I provided to the people of Illinois over 40 years, and needless to say I am disappointed in the outcome,” Ryan said. “But I feel confident in our appeal, and there will be an appeal.” UPDATE 9: CBS2 reports that Ryan was met with hecklers when he left the building, with at least one person shouting, “You got what you deserved!” UPDATE 8: AP: “Ryan sat stone-faced as the verdict was read.” UPDATE 7: Jury is speaking now. UPDATE 6: People, I’ve had to delete several comments so far today and I don’t have time to babysit. From now on, if your comment is deleted you will automatically be placed in comment moderation for at least the rest of the day. Thanks. UPDATE 5: George Ryan: There will be an appeal. UPDATE 4: Dan Webb: “I’m very disappointed in the verdict… We’re going to begin immediately on post-trial motions… appeal…” much of the previous jury trouble is under seal, which will be lifted soon. UPDATE 3: George Ryan is expected to make a statement soon. UPDATE 2: Sentencing date August 4th. UPDATE:
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Verdict is in
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller CBS2: A verdict has been reached in the trial of George Ryan. The judge is expected to read the verdict shortly. Check that link for a live broadcast. Appears they’ve gone wall-to-wall.
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