Results tagged “georgeryan”

Yesterday the Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments regarding former governor George Ryan's pension as Ryan attempts to reclaim part of his pension. Representing Ryan was another former governor, Jim Thompson. Thompson argued that though Ryan was stripped of his entire pension - a mind-boggling $197,037 per year, according to the Sun-Times - by the General Assembly upon his conviction in 2006, Ryan should still be entitled to the pension for offices he held before he became secretary of state in 1991; he had been a member of the Kankakee County Board, a State House Rep., and Lieutenant Governor (under Thompson). Why those offices? Because he served those offices "honestly"; in other words, he wasn't charged with anything while serving those offices. The pension he'd collect for those jobs would total around $60,000. Earlier this year, a state appeals court reversed the complete stripping of his pension. Reps for the retirement system, though, are none-too-amused. The Sun-Times continues:

As former governor George Ryan remains in jail, his attorney has a new target to plead to for a pardon: President Obama. Acknowledging that the president has "other things on his plate," Ryan's attorney, Jim Thompson (a former governor himself) plans on asking Obama to commute Ryan's sentence. Ryan is currently serving a six-and-a-half year prison term for racketeering and fraud. [Chicago Breaking News]

This week's news about President Obama's relaxing of travel restrictions to Cuba reminded us of all the things we would love about a trip to America's Future Territory* (minus that pesky totalitarianism, of course). Cigars, rum, Hemingway, '50s era automobiles held together by spit and duct tape - ah, Cuba! So naturally our thoughts traveled back to the most high-profile Illinoisan to set foot on Cuban soil (up until Bobby Rush's recent trip) and the first American governor since 1959. Let's travel back, you and I, to Governor Ryan's humanitarian delegation trip to Cuba in October of 1999.

Now that he's no longer Governor, Rod Blagojevich can turn his attention to his upcoming federal trial and, more importantly, finding a new lead attorney. Star defender Ed Genson quit Blago's legal team on the heels of Blago's media blitz, which Genson disapproved of. With that, all the ex-gov is left with is "longtime friend" Sheldon Sorosky. The father-son pair of Sam Adams Jr. and Sr. handles some of Blago's impeachment proceedings but have not yet committed to the federal portion of Blago's legal woes. The Sun-Times reports that Rod and Patti met with several prospective attorneys over the weekend in an attempt to fill out the roster.

• Stick-em-up: a man robbed a Logan Square McDonald's today armed only with a stick.
• Police seized drugs and weapons as well as arrested Casey Crawford during an overnight raid at a condo apparently owned by Chicago Police Asst. Supt. Beatrice Cuello. Neither Cuello nor her daughter, who also lives at the condo, were suspected of any wrong-doing.
• A state appeals court has ruled jailed former governor George Ryan should be allowed to receive part of his pension. Ryan will receive $65,000 a year.

Okay, now we've heard everything. In the wake of his failure to get his sentence commuted by outgoing President Bush, former (and jailed) governor George Ryan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by University of Illinois professor Francis A. Boyle. Boyle is a professor of International Law and Human Rights and this isn't the first time Boyle has nominated Ryan; it's the sixth. Boyle has been trying to get Ryan's work on ending the death penalty rewarded. Here's guessing Ryan goes unrewarded once more.

According to the state's senior U.S. senator Dick Durbin, it looks unlikely that outgoing President George W. Bush will commute the sentence of former Illinois governor George Ryan. Durbin had requested the commutation for Ryan, but the Blagojevich scandal likely derailed any chances of that happening. According to Durbin, speaking at a pre-inauguration coffee, “It was very clear to me that scandal had an impact on President Bush’s decision. And I think it is highly unlikely that a pardon will be issued for former Gov. Ryan before George Bush leaves office. I think the atmosphere and environment of scandal and corruption makes it more difficult for President Bush to consider." Earlier, President Bush issued a commutation of sentences for two border guards in a move called "his final acts of clemency."

While everyone is getting themselves in a tizzy over this Obama Birth Certificate issue, one of the major local political stories continues to be Sen. Durbin's (pictured right) letter to President Bush asking for a commutation of former Governor George Ryan's sentence. While Gov. Blagojevich has already come out in favor of Durbin's request (no surprise as he will probably be facing a similar fate to Ryan's very soon), earlier this week, U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk (Rep.) sent Pres. Bush a letter disputing Durbin's request and State Attorney General Lisa Madigan also said she was opposed to a commuting of Ryan's sentence.

The White House has confirmed they received Sen. Dick Durbin's letter asking President Bush to commute the sentence of convicted former governor George Ryan but if they feel one way or the other about it, they're not letting on. Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said, "Well, I can tell you that we have received the request from Sen. Durbin, but I would not comment on the pardon process--except for to say that anyone who is eligible for a pardon can apply for one, and those requests go through our pardon attorney, which is at the Justice Department...I wouldn't be surprised if there were more before he leaves office, but I couldn't tell you how many and I certainly couldn't tell you who." For his part, President-Elect Obama said any comment from him on the matter, isn't "appropriate" at this point.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin sent a letter to President Bush today asking for Bush to commute former governor George Ryan's sentence. Ryan was convicted in 2006 of fraud, racketeering, and other corruption charges. So far, he has served a little over a year of a 6 and-a-half year sentence. Durbin has expressed concern for the health of the former governor and his wife. While prosecutors have come out against any pardon or commutation, Ryan has allegedly expressed remorse over his actions. In the letter to Bush, Durbin says:

George Ryan is 74 years old. He has lost his state pension benefits and a commutation will not restore them. He would emerge from prison facing economic uncertainty at an advanced stage of his life.

Continue reading "Durbin Asks President Bush to Commute Ryan's Sentence"

But instead of taking this opportunity to come clean, Ryan has doubled down on denial: "His conscience is as clear as his mind," his wife, Lura Lynn, told the Sun-Times Tuesday. "If he had it to do over—and I've heard him say this—he would govern the same way as he did before."

Continue reading "Blago Jumps on Ryan Clemency Bandwagon"

At a press conference in Springfield today, Sen. Dick Durbin says he's wondering whether or not former and now convicted Governor George Ryan has served enough jail time. The Trib reports Durbin saying, "I'm taking into consideration the situation with the former governor, and whether or not a commutation should be recommended to the president, and I am considering it at this moment." Ryan was convicted on 22 counts of racketeering, fraud, bribery and corruption, and has served prison time for a little over a year of his six and a half year sentence. Is this some sort of setup to get Marc Rich knocked off the top 10 list?

Man, Chicago is a city of criminals and asshats, of mismanagement and lying, corruption and inertia. Just ask the AP! Today's "Corruption fighters find Chicago a challenge" says shady dealings in this town are part of the patchwork we lovingly refer to as Chicago history.

So this morning's Supreme Court ruling might not be the total end of the road for George Ryan's quest to get out of prison. The latest? His lawyer is going to ask President Bush to pardon him. Jim Thompson announced this afternoon that he and the rest of Ryan's legal team were planning on petitioning the president for clemency. And if Bush won't grant it, they'll petition the next president, too. One expert put the chances of Bush granting Ryan's request at 50-50. [CBS 2, WBBM]

The United States Supreme Court denied George Ryan's appeal today, meaning our imprisoned former governor will stay just that: imprisoned.

“I miss the beat,” says Bill Cameron. “But hopefully I'll be able to get back to it sooner rather than later.” Cameron is no longer on that beat because he was let go by his employers, WLS Radio, a couple Fridays back in what's being called the Leap Day Massacre. So, seeing as how he had some extra time on his hands, we decided to get in touch with him and talk about nearly 40 years of experience covering Chicago politics. [Full disclosure: Your humble author used to work with Cameron at WLS.]

A New Trier high school student got access to the school's computer system, apparently to check his class rank. He didn't steal any personal info, and nothing was deleted or changed; he just accessed "student directory information for all students, semester grades for current students and the last three graduating classes, and ACT test scores for the class of 2008." Police are investigating. [S-T]

Tony Rezko's rise to power in state politics didn't happen overnight. When got started as a strong advocate of grassroots Arab-American activism in Chicago and was often the largest contributor to Arab-American campaigns. But several years ago, Rezko’s name started showing up on campaign disclosure forms for prominent politicians in Chicago, Cook County and the state.

Former governor Jim Thompson came to the defense of the current administration this weekend, specifically on behalf of Illinois’ first lady, Patty Blagojevich. Thompson was prompted by a report on Friday that the feds have started sniffing around Mrs. Blago’s real estate deals –- deals that have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions brokering transactions for Springfield connected clients such as state contractors and contributors to her husband’s campaign. So why would...

An armed suspect ran into an elementary school this afternoon in an attempt to evade the police. It didn't work. The police caught him, and luckily no one was injured.

With all the investigating and convicting going on these days, the case against the Hispanic Democratic Organization and its leadership hasn't been in the news much lately. With George Ryan out the way, the feds can get back to taking down the Chicago Machine. The first casualty of what will likely be many in that case came yesterday, with John Resa, an HDO coordinator who controlled some 70 city jobs, getting 15 months in prison...

George Ryan starts his prison sentence today, and the Sun-Times and Trib have helpfully chronicled every move the former governor has made since last night. You know what that means: time for a Ryan Round Up! Olé! Yesterday, the 73-year-old released this statement to the public, again claiming innocence and thanking his family and legal team. At 5:50 this morning, Ryan left his home in Kankakee in a van driven by his son, George Ryan...

A lesbian couple was named "cutest couple" for Waukegan High School's annual yearbook. Minor hand-wringing from a parent ensued. It's too damn early for Christmas music on the radio. Same goes for Christmas sales. You might want to think twice about eating those Jeno's or Totino's frozen pizzas. Too little too late? Macy's hopes FAO Schwartz can bring customers back to State Street. There's still some meaningful soccer to be played at Toyota Park....

George Ryan is edging ever closer to the big house after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals denied today yet another request from the Ryan camp. This go-round, Ryan was trying to stay out on bail until the Supreme Court could hear his case, but the 7th said no. That leaves Ryan with just one option left: Ask the Supreme Court to extend his bail. If they decline, Ryan will head to the clink...

Loyola University Medical Center started testing all incoming patients for that drug-resistant staph germ that's been going around. Our version of a spa is where George Ryan's going to prison. Jesse Jackson Jr. throws a "tea party" style photo op, dumping bottled water in the Chicago River. Big talk for a man who opted not to run against His Elective Majesty for Mayor. Does El Cubanito make the best Cuban sandwich in town? You'll...

Jean Sliwinski was convicted of reckless homicide today and was also deemed mentally ill. She'll be sentenced November 26. George Ryan is supposed to report to prison November 7...unless Judge Posner's emphatic dissent is enough to convince the 7th Circuit to extend Ryan's bail until his case can be appealed to the Supreme Court. There are people who enjoy Ricky Henderson jokes. There are people who enjoy Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me jokes. Then...

justices said "the evidence of the [Ryan]'s guilt was overwhelming," and they refused to grant Ryan an "en banc" hearing--which is when all 11 judges on the court hear a case together. Ryan's pretty much SOL at this point, but his lawyers say they'll appeal again, this time to the Supreme Court, though it's unlikely that court will hear the case.

Former WKQX-FM 101.1 radio host Erich "Mancow" Muller filed a lawsuit Tuesday against his former employer, saying radio officials disparaged his show and blocked him from getting other work. We are getting pretty sick of the cell phone drivers, but we are always amazed at the cell phone bikers (not in a good way). Yesterday, an 19-year-old woman who was struck and killed by a garbage truck on the Northwest Side, was apparently talking...

An air of unfairness permeates everything about the George Ryan trial. His fall from grace, you may remember, began with the License-for-Bribe Scandal, a scandal that involved the deaths of nearly an entire family caused by a truck driver who had effectively bought his commercial drivers license. Of the many themes that have been present in the George Ryan corruption trial, a recurring one has been forgiveness. Besides his connection to corruption in state politics,...