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Today’s Capitol Fax emphasized one section of the federal “proffer” about George Ryan that I didn’t see anywhere else.
According to the feds, [Ryan pal Ron] Swanson’s withdrawal of tens of thousands of dollars in cash from financial institutions was noteworthy, “not just in their volume, but in their timing… Several [cash withdrawals] coincide with Ryan’s birthday on February 24, a date which is typically noted on Swanson’s calendar.”* “February 24, 1998, Swanson obtained $3,300 in cash.”
* “On February 23, 2000, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Swanson obtained $5,000 in cash. According to his calendar, Swanson saw Ryan at 6:00 p.m. that night.”
* “On February 21, 2002, Swanson’s assistant, Kent De Lay obtained $3,000 in cash for Swanson at 10:30 a.m. Swanson’s calendar reflects that he was ‘w/Gov. Ryan @ Capitol’ at 12:45 on that same day.”
* We knew that then-Governor Ryan allegedly tipped off Swanson in advance that the state would build a prison in Grayville and that Swanson then allegedly used that information to obtain a $50,000 fee from the locals to “make sure” that the prison would indeed be built there. But, according to the feds, there’s more.
“Swanson deposited the $50,000 fee he had received from Dr. Wilson on or about March 15, 2001. Thereafter, on March 26, 2001, two sequential checks for $7,000 and $8,000 made payable to Swanson were written on his account. The first check, for $7,000 was cashed on March 28, 2001. Swanson’s calendar reflects a meeting with Ryan on March 29, 2001 at 11:30 a.m.”
* George Ryan and Don Udstuen allegedly recommended that a firm hire Swanson as a lobbyist. Swanson then allegedly gave Udstuen, “a $4,000 cash payment in the men’s bathroom of a Chicago restaurant for making the referral of Swanson. After providing Udstuen with the $4,000, Swanson told Udstuen that he was also ‘taking care’ of Ryan.”
We’d heard before about some alleged smalltime grafting by Ryan, but this was the first time that I’d seen allegations about Ryan taking big bucks from his pals. Yet, it was ignored by every print outlet that I read today.
The other thing that stuck out for me was how involved Ryan allegedly was in deciding who would get what and how much. Ryan was supposedly a “hands off” delegator, but if the feds are correct, then he had a firm grasp of details when it came to helping his corrupt friends.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 5, 05 @ 3:28 pm
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Well, how do you celebrate your birthday?
I celebrate mine by having some cake… Ryan celebrates his by accepting tens of thousands of dollars from his friends… Different strokes, etc.
Comment by So-Called Austin Mayor Wednesday, Jan 5, 05 @ 5:09 pm
On p.81, a bigshot at MAYER BROWN allegedly helped protect Ryan’s people launder bribes. Shouldn’t the ARDC do something about that?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 5, 05 @ 9:16 pm
Ron Swanson withdrew 1000s of dollars every week. You could tie him to the World Trade Center terrorism if you are going to go by that.
The proffer offers rumors and innuendos and still nothing illegal by George Ryan.
If someone wants to pay Swanson $50,000 so be it - that prison was a done deal, already.
Proper reporting was done on all gifts. That is why the feds know about them. A dress for Lura Lynn? Not illegal. A parking space at the capitol? Not illegal.
Don Udsteun is the stoog in all of this and he will tell anyone anything they want to hear, just so long as he gets off.
Where’s the proof? So, far nothing illegal by Ryan.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 6, 05 @ 6:16 pm
Re-read the proffer, whoever you are. You’re apparently blind.
“As part of the conspiracy, Swanson omitted all of the gifts and payments from his Lobbyist Registration Statements, and Ryan omitted all Swanson gifts and payments from his Statements of Economic Interests.”
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 7, 05 @ 1:28 am
That’s because there were no Swanson gifts. Do you know Ron Swanson? He is unfortunately, very senile. The person that is supplying this information to the Feds is trying to avoid prison.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 7, 05 @ 7:17 am
Swanson, “very senile”? Who are you, his lawyer? Does Vincent ‘the Chin’ Gigante know you’re coppin’ his act? Just saw Swanson at a furernal for his friend. Didn’t look or sound “Senile” to me….
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 05 @ 6:01 am