Ryan "Imbecile" Verdict - More Coverage

New York Times: "Mr. Ryan is best known for his finding, in the final 48 hours of his term as governor, that the state's capital punishment system was broken; he was later nominated for a Nobel Prize for commuting more than 160 death sentences. But in this courtroom, witnesses and lawyers were barred from mentioning Mr. Ryan's stance on the death penalty before the jurors."

Washington Post: "The jury's decision ends the state's biggest political corruption trial in decades, and draws a conclusion on the long career of a politician who gained international fame as a death penalty critic but left office in 2003 amid a widespread corruption scandal."

Ryan "Imbecile" Verdict - Complete Coverage

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/17/ryan.verdict.ap/index.html

Drudge: http://www.drudgereport.com/

ABC7Chicago: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=4089966

NBC5Chicago: http://www.nbc5.com/politics/8507704/detail.html

CBS2Chicago: http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_107111835.html

Ryan uses the bathroom and tries to tell a funny joke: http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_107132501.html

Jury Finds Ryan to be an Imbecile

Former Gov. George Ryan was found to be "a complete imbecile" by a federal jury Monday of all 18 counts against him, ending a historic, marathon public corruption trial that started more than six months ago.

The six-man, six-woman jury reached one of the most awaited verdicts in recent history after 10 days of deliberations and after U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer reconstituted the panel, swapping two dismissed jurors with alternates.

Ryan's codefendant, Lawrence Warner, 67, a lobbyist and businessman. was also found "imbecile" on all counts against him.

The courtroom was packed with family of the defendants, including Ryan's wife, Lura Lynn, his son and others. Also packed in were judges and lawyers, including U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and a son of Janet and Scott Willis. The couple lost six children in a fiery truck accident - the truck driver in that accident was tied to corruption under Ryan.

Ryan, 72, who served eight years as Illinois secretary of state and four years as governor, was accused of using his official position to steer state contracts to pals such as Warner. Ryan is also accused of lying to the FBI, misusing his campaign fund and filing false tax forms.

Prosecutors say Warner, 67, made $3 million in the time Ryan held state office. Warner made much of the money, they contended, after shaking down vendors for lobbying work and threatening to cut off their state contracts in some instances if they didn't pay him. He also made big money off of state leases that he won under Ryan in which Warner's financial interest was hidden.

The trial itself ended more than a month ago and the trial started with jury selection seven months ago.

For the record, The Al-Manac endorsed Ryan's opponent, Democrat Glenn Poshard, for the 1998 governor's race in Illinois. Poshard is one of three Democrats that T.G. Bretzky has ever voted for.

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Former Illinois Governor Found "Imbecile" On All Counts

Chicago - Former Illinois governor George Ryan has been found "Imbecile" on all counts in a Federal courtroom moments ago.

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