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As this item shows, George Ryan didn’t invent corruption at the secretary of state’s office, but he did perfect it.
A one-time state mail clerk testified Monday in the corruption trial against former Gov. George Ryan that state employees had to give cash to campaigns and do political work in their spare time.
And CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that longtime state government worker Lori Withers testified that it wasn’t just Ryan who expected this.
Withers testified that as a $19,000-a-year mail clerk, she was forced by aides to then Secretary of State Jim Edgar to buy fundraising tickets.
“I told (Edgar’s deputy) that I couldn’t afford to buy a ticket. He told me I HAD to buy it. I borrowed the money,” Witners said.
Withers testified further that once Ryan became her boss, she continued to buy tickets, and also made campaign calls and did door-to-door precinct working.
Curiously enough, Copley’s story makes no mention of Edgar.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 4:34 am
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Despite the Paul Powell scandal, the SOS office continues to this day to be politically corrupt.
Slim Jim was no exception, although George Ryan raised it to an art form.
Isn’t it amazing that not one SOS ever wondered — or checked out — how their mostly underpaid employees raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for fund-raisers out of license plate and drivers facilities?
Powell didn’t, Lewis didn’t, Howlett didn’t, Dixon didn’t, Edgar didn’t, Ryan didn’t.
Comment by The Colonel Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 5:52 am
Maybe so, but it’s Blago that has perfected it at the Executive level.
Comment by Wigand Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 9:08 am
Curiously enough, March will the the 13th (THIRTEENTH) anniversary of the infamous raid on the Libertyville SOS station. One can only wonder where and/or waht Edgar, local cops and the G have been doing. Guess we will REALLY root out all the corruption in the next administration.
Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 9:14 am
1. I think the Trib this morning did mention that the employee had to pay to play under Edgar’s reign.
2. All this brave, after-the-fact references to past SOS corruption, ad nauseum…. If the SOS is “historically corrupt”, how come NOTHING is written about Jesse White? Has he cured the malady? Or will his campaign receipts show NO donations from any employees? As the latter is doubtful, why is any story on the subject off limits????
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 9:59 am
WHAT! Not St. James the benevolent of Charleston!
Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 11:09 am
Rich instead of taking pot shots at Edgar, where were you when Daley hired John “Quarters” Boyle after leaving Prison for stealing 2 million from the Illinois Tollway??? Or why no mention of David Wilhelm, Clinton’s Manager and Rahm Emanuel’s boss, being involved in Crooked State Pension Deals? Selective memory I guess my friend.
Comment by Obama Overrated Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 11:49 am
OO, you’re obviously not a subscriber or you’d know that I’ve written about all of that stuff. Also, I don’t write much about local politics.
One more thing, since you keep bringing this up. Just because Kass writes about something doesn’t mean I have to, and the other way around. For instance, I’ve written lots about Eddie Vrdolyak.
Let’s get back to the topic at hand, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 11:56 am
Fair enough Rich. But I do believe Edgar is a passe subject considering he’s been out of office for 8 years. Why are we taking the word of a single office temp with some gripe? I apologize if I am off track, but it seems every time the State Dem’s get in trouble they bust on past dinosaur GOP officials. Thanks again for your Blog rich.
Comment by Obama Overrated Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 12:54 pm
Mike Flannery, Lynn Sweet, ABC’S Charles Thomas etc.. I understand that Chicago Journalists lean to the left Politically, but can they at least hide their partisanship. Flannery speaks of Edgar and Ryan with drool from his mouth. At least Joel Weisman looks at both sides of the coin.
Comment by Obama Overrated Tuesday, Jan 10, 06 @ 1:01 pm