Ryan Lets His Wife Do the Talking

By Amy Hart in News on Feb 23, 2006 2:40PM

Yesterday the George Ryan defense team announced it would wind up its part in his corruption trial without testimony from Ryan or his co-defendant, Larry Warner. Chicagoist is very sad. We really wanted to hear Ryan talk about his “manageable wads.”

But at least his wife is talking. Yesterday Lura Lynn Ryan spoke out and said the government went after her husband because of his stance against the death penalty. So this has nothing to do with corruption and abusing the public’s trust? It’s just some execution hungry feds wanting payback for Ryan commuting the sentences of death row inmates? And are we to believe Ryan losing the Nobel Peace Prize last year was also the work of the feds? An attorney would not allow her to elaborate, so we’re not really sure what evidence she has to back up her theory.

Last fall we said we were growing weary of Ryan’s “woe is me” campaign, and we don’t feel any differently now that his wife is working his talking points. She also said her husband "has done nothing but try to help people" all his life and “can’t tell his story on the witness stand.” And she is right about that. He can’t tell his story since he won’t testify.

Closing arguments could start next week, then the case will go to the jury.

Photo via CBS 2