Fitzgerald waited until Gov. Ryan was out of office to indict him to prevent any mass pardons

[NNN0LHI]

I wonder if we are seeing a repeat? Don't think Bush and his minions aren't thinking about this?

Don


http://www.ipsn.org/ryan_george/former_gov_george_ryan_indicted.htm

Former Gov. George Ryan indicted

Tribune staff reports
Published December 17, 2003, 7:09 PM CST

Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan was charged today in a federal racketeering indictment with conspiracy and fraud while he was governor and secretary of state.

Ryan allegedly engaged in a pattern of corruption that included performing official government acts, awarding lucrative government contracts and leases and using the State of Illinois for his own benefit, members of his family, his campaign organization and certain associates, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

"I submit that the citizens of this state expect honest government from the secretary of state or the governor," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said during a news conference this afternoon at the Dirksen Building in downtown Chicago. "They deserve nothing less."

Ryan, 69, a Republican known worldwide as a leading critic of the death penalty, gradually became the focus of a corruption investigation that began even before his 1998 election as governor. The growing scandal was a factor in Ryan's 2001 decision not to seek a second term. snip

Ryan became the 66th person charged in the investigation; 59 people and his campaign committee have been convicted so far.

[leftofthedial]

1. drip drip drip

Fitzmas in July

[kimmerspixelated]

5. Ho Ho Ho!

Gotta love FITZ!!!

[youngdem]

2. No. You can preemptively pardon for past conduct

Ford did for Nixon. Bush will do for ALL of his buddies.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Bush can't pardon himself though n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

9. That's never been tested.

There's nothing in the Constitution preventing it.

[youngdem]

12. Bush will try it.

[glitch]

3. This could work, as long as they actually do leave office. And aren't replaced with a shill. nt

[murielm99]

6. I always felt it happened after he left office because

it took that long for Fitz to build a case.

Ryan knew it was coming. That is why he placed a moratorium on death penalty cases and cynically pardoned all those death row inmates right before the end of his term. He was trying to build public support.

Fitz had to find leverage. He jailed some important underlings, like Fawell and threatened Fawell's fiance. Then he bargained with those two for pardons and reduced sentences if they would testify about Ryan. I was hoping that pattern would work with Libby. It may yet work, if someone can find proof that * commuted Libby's sentence to prevent him from talking about illegal things * did. We may not have seen the last of this.

[malaise]

7. I love Patrick Fitzgerald n/t

[NashVegas]

8. Look, I Take It As a Given There Will Be Pardons

And see it as the lesser of two evils; the other being to allow them to remain in office.

[blondeatlast]

10. Exactly. The less damaging of two evils, let's say. nt

[AndyTiedye]

14. If They Pardon Themselves/Each Other, SEND THEM TO THE HAGUE!

The HAGUE will tell them where they can put the pResidential pardons.

[DonP]

11. Why such old news?

Or am I missing something here?

Ryan has been tried, convicted and sentenced.

He is free on bond pending his appeal, which most folks in Illinois think is a total travesty.

Back in January (IIRC) they also stripped him of all his pension benefits for his entire public career.

Now he and his wife are both trying to play the "too sick and old" to have him go to the slammer card and nobody is buying it.

But they have pictures of him and her dining at the Kankakee Country Club and traveling around the country to make paid speeches against the death penalty (A conversiuon he had right after he found out one of his former aides had turned states evidence). He thought it would buy him jury sympathy. No such luck George.

Now all of us here would just like to see him go up the river, like three (or four?) of our last 6 governors.

Suggested new Illinois governor's motto: "Will the defendant please rise and face the jury".

Ryan was guilty of simple greed. I just don't see Bush or anyone suggesting he get a pardon or commutation

[Joe Chi Minh]

13. Was he loyal though?