Posted on 12/18/2002 5:34:52 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
Gov. George Ryan knew that documents from his campaign were destroyed by his aides in 1998 out of fear that investigators would raid his offices, federal prosecutors alleged Wednesday.
Ryan, who was then secretary of state, was present when top aide Scott Fawell gave orders to remove all campaign documents from the secretary of state's office and destroy them, according to a 76-page court filing by federal prosecutors.
The filing alleges that Fawell, after giving instructions to destroy the documents, turned to Ryan and told him what he had done. Ryan then left the offices, prosecutors said.
Later that night, documents were collected throughout the secretary of state's office at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago and shredded, according to the filing.
Within a few days of the shredding of the documents, an aide told Ryan that the fifth floor of the Thompson Center had been cleaned up, prosecutors said in the filing. "Ryan made no response but also gave no indication that he did not understand what (the aide) was talking about."
The documents were filed in advance of the racketeering trial of Fawell and Ryan's campaign committee. Prosecutors have alleged that Ryan aides used state workers and state money for political purposes as early as 1992. The case began as an investigation of the sale of driver's licenses for bribes when Ryan was secretary of state.
The document marks the first time in the four-year corruption investigation that prosecutors have alleged Ryan himself had knowledge of possible wrongdoing.
Ryan has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing. A spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a telephone call for comment.
(More surprised that his (R) wasn't in the article.)
Richie Daley made sure he won the gov race against a Conservative Blue Dog Democrat, Glen Poshard in 98.
Most conservatives in Illinois voted for Poshard.
Thanks to George Ryan, the Republicans got pummeled in the last election. The Dems now control all branches of state government. This is the same guy who is contemplating granting clemency to EVERY prisoner on death row in Illinois. This guy is lower than roadkill.
Want to know what I think about these guys? Let me tell you a little story about one of them.
Former RINO Governor Jim Edgar retired to the same small town that my family and I live. My oldest son, just out of high school works at the local grocery store, a very friendly place like you'll find in many small towns across the midwest. Jim and Brenda Edgar are regular patrons of this store, so my son has the opportunity to bag their groceries and haul them out to their car. Get this...my son has had the opportunity to serve the Edgars in this way 5 different times over the last year. On 5 occasions my son initiated small talk with Jim Edgar, and NOT ONCE did the former Governor have the civility to respond. Not ONE word! No "Thanks!", no "How are you doing?", no nothing. And to think that I voted for this guy twice for Governor. What an embarrasing role model that guy turned out to be. Who can blame my son for his indifference towards politics.
I remember during the campaign when Bush made an Illinois appearance Ryan was sent (yes, sent) to North Carolina.
I know that may Illinoisians think that the licenses-for-bribes scandal is big, but it's nothing compared to this:
Ryan is a registered pharmacist. Distribution of Medicaid funded prescription medicines was handled with his knowledge/blessing.
This one's gonna make L-for-B look like a grade schooler's piggybank.
It's my understanding that L-for-B will end up as merely a 'side interest' in Illinois scandal lore.
All I can say is, 'watch the papers'.
Didn't know that, but wouldn't put anything past the crook Ryan. I hope he gets what he deserves, but it should have been done while he was in office, they should have nailed him, some big guns had to have been paid off to protect Ryan while in office, once he's out all hell will break loose & I for one am glad.
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