Question of the day
Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My intern Barton Lorimor posted this story last week…
George Ryan, the ex-Illinois governor sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison for corruption, asked the judge who presided at his trial to throw out parts of his conviction on the basis of a Supreme Court decision this year.
Attorneys for the governor, a Republican, cited the court’s June decision in the case of former Enron Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey K. Skilling, which narrowed a fraud statute involving so-called deprivation of honest services because it was unconstitutionally vague.
“Under the standard established by Skilling, Ryan’s conviction and sentence are unlawful,” defense attorneys Dan Webb and James Thompson, also a former Republican governor, wrote.
Ryan, 76, was convicted in April 2006 of violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and mail fraud. The verdict was based on conduct that the Supreme Court found not to be criminal in the Skilling case, his lawyers told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer. Prosecutors relied on the same law in the federal criminal cases against Ryan and former Hollinger International Inc. Chairman Conrad Black.
* The Question: If Ryan is released, do you think he’ll have served enough time to pay for his crimes? Explain.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:06 pm:
yes. the former governors sentence wasnt a life sentence. it is entirely appropriate considering his age and crime.
- Publius - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:09 pm:
Ryan has done his time, besides he is old news anyways. Now if this was Blago I think me and the rest of Illinois would be kicking and screaming
- George - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:10 pm:
When is it currently expected that he gets out? Next year? 18 months from now?
Will he serve about 4 1/2 years of the 6 1/2 year sentence?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:15 pm:
The reality is if GHR was found guilty of unconstitutionally vague charges, and he has done significant time already, GHR should be done.
Pat Fitz is hurting right now, especially if GHR does get to walk, and I can see that as possible given all he has paid thus far, and Blago still free at thie moment, but I digress….
Free George, call it Debt Paid in Full … and let’s all move on.
- Bill - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:16 pm:
Yes, he was tried under an unconstitutional law by an over zealous prosecutor and convicted by a rigged jury. He has served enough time for whatever it was that they said he did.
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:26 pm:
How many Willis children were there? If he served 4 out of 6, that is not bad. Given the sentence, time has been served. Time to wash my hands
- Knome Sane - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:37 pm:
Yes, he served his time.
- Gregor - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:41 pm:
Bill, you’re talking about your ex boss Blago, right?
As far as Ryan, what this does, if they let him out early, is give him a way to recoup some of his personal honor by claiming he’d been set up and framed for a non-crime. I wouldn’t feel bad about the old man getting released after serving 3/4 of his sentence, however, I WOULD feel bad if he made this into an opportunity to say and set a narrative that he was let go because he was innocent. The old man was definitely NOT innocent. And he wouldn’t really cop to being guilty until he was already in the slammer. I worry a bit that this release would embolden future pols who think the stakes just got lowered. Blago being a chief example of this.
- Segatari - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:41 pm:
Bill that comment is stupid. The Supreme Court ruling does not make anything Ryan did “legal”. He knew he was committing crimes taking bribes to hand out licenses to illegal bad drivers. So he should stay right where he is.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:56 pm:
Is there legally a difference (or should there be) between a PRIVATE corporate official like Skilling or Black depriving customers of “honest services” and a PUBLIC official like Ryan or Blago doing the same to the public/taxpayers?
Regardless of whether there is or not… Ryan has been in for, what, 2 1/2 years, going on 3 if my math is correct. Anything past 3 years is enough for my taste.
- Stones - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:03 pm:
I would feel a lot better about releasing George Ryan if he would express a little remorse for HIS actions. Absent that he should continue to serve his term.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:09 pm:
Bill,
You trying to make a case for restitution? Would you push for such? Your words should be saved for someone whose rights were truly trampled on. Sheeesh.
I do not believe that Ryan will have served enough time if he is released. He remains unrepentant, that is the key. While he was not charged directly with any crime involving the tragedy visited upon the Willis family he can’t, in my eyes, escape culpability.
Were he to have shown some remorse for his actions it would be different. There is little he can say now that would change my mind. His continuing efforts at being exonerated and/or released serve only to keep salt slowly spinkling on the wounds that this state suffers from, even more so for the Willis family.
- Pat collins - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:12 pm:
When is it currently expected that he gets out?
In general, Fed prisoners serve 85% of their sentence, then are eligible for parole. IF GR makes parole on time, and nothing changes, he gets out of Jail in July, 2013.
- Pat collins - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:13 pm:
And for the record, I do not think his sentence was long enough, so any early release is not at all warranted.
- Tom Joad - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:28 pm:
George stopped an investigation into his ticket sales and license selling at the Secretary of State’s office. Had an investigation gone forward, he wouldn’t have been elected governor. He should stay put in jail.
- Xgman - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:29 pm:
Ryan was not found guilty of taking bribes to issue drivers’ licenses. He was convicted only of some marginal obstruction charges, staying at a friends’ Caribbean condo, and permitting underlings to practice corruption. He was an amateur compared to Blago. Let him out!
- Bubs - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:36 pm:
George Ryan was convicted of something like 20 counts, and the Judge only threw out a couple of those afterwards. He was convicted on a lot more than the “honest services” statute.
He only went to jail in January 2007, so he has not even served half his sentence. What are we telling future crooked Governors, and the people of Illinois, if we let him off so easily?
I agree that Ryan has suffered in other ways, such as his reputation and his pension. But I just can’t see letting him out.
He betrayed all of us.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:38 pm:
Xgman,
Yeah, and nominate him for the Nobel Peace prize….oh, wait a minute, that did happen. Hey, Xgman, was that you who put him up for that?
A convict is a convict is a convict. Ryan knew what he was doing was wrong. That he was convicted ON ALL COUNTS should have some meaning for the relativists out there.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:58 pm:
It should not be a matter of compassion or discretion.
There are standards regarding the amount of time an inmate has to serve before he/she is to be released. If every inmate can be released when 50% of the term is server then the former Governor should be entitled to that privilege. If the number is closer to 85% then that is what should be granted. His release should not be any earlier or later than any other non-violent felon.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 2:10 pm:
Yes he has served a suficient amount of time given the conduct, his age and the loss ofhis pension.
Bill’s Calendar for today: Go to cap fax, toss in handgrenade, run away…
- flabergasted - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 3:09 pm:
YES to the QOTD
@ghost-Bill’s hand grenade was like one of Wylie Coyote’s …
- D.P. Gumby - Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 3:15 pm:
Yes, if you also believe that the sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug possession is also grossly disproportionate.