Conservatives who accused ex-Illinois Governor George H. Ryan of scheming to influence a potential jury (he was not under indictment at that time) don't look so mean and cynical now.
From AP:
Attorneys for former Gov. George Ryan say they should be allowed to present evidence about the actions he took to prevent executions in Illinois during Ryan's upcoming corruption trial.
In a court filing Friday, Ryan's attorneys accused prosecutors of trying to present a "one-sided" and "distorted" view of Ryan's political career.
"George Ryan did not sell his office or abandon the citizens of Illinois, and the jury is entitled to consider evidence relating to his entire term in office," defense attorneys wrote in the filing.
As governor, Ryan declared a moratorium on executions and commuted the sentences of all 167 inmates awaiting execution after several people were released from death row for wrongful convictions.
Prosecutors urged federal Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer on June 17 to bar defense attorneys from telling jurors about the steps Ryan took to prevent executions in the state, saying that "whether a politician 'courageously' reviewed the death penalty or not is not in any way pertinent to the issue of whether he engaged in acts of fraud and racketeering over a 12-year period."
Ryan is accused of accepting free vacations and other perks while doling out favors such as lucrative state contracts and leases to lobbyist friends, starting in 1990 when he was elected secretary of state. He has pleaded innocent to the racketeering charges.
Ryan's trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 15.
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