Pimpin' Ain't Easy

By Amy Hart in News on Nov 18, 2005 5:50PM

Earlier this week Chicagoist pointed out that testimony detailing George Ryan walking around with wads of cash brought to mind images of Ryan as a pimp. Then Former Texas Senator Phil Gramm comes along and takes it a step further by alluding to Ryan being a prostitute.

When Ryan was head of Gramm’s presidential campaign in Illinois for the 1996 race, the Gramm campaign gave thousands of dollars to a Chicago area consultant who turned around and wrote checks to Ryan’s family members and aides. The prosecution charges that Ryan wanted the money in return for his endorsement of Gramm. With the jury out of the courtroom Gramm said he did not approve of the payments because, “It's sort of like the difference between love and prostitution.”

Ryan was not amused and delivered his own throwdown with a statement that reads, in part, “If Senator Gramm wants to use the word 'prostitute,' perhaps he should look within.”

Oh, it’s on.

Also, Ryan’s attorneys revealed yesterday that he will take the stand in his own defense. We can hardly wait!