George Ryan trial update: He lashes out in court at ex-Sen. Phil Gramm

I've been keeping an eye on the trial of ex-Governor George Ryan, R-IL, but there's not been too much to report, especially to those visitors who live outside Illinois.

Today was much different. Former Texas Senator Phil Gramm testified for the prosecution at Ryan's trial. Gramm ran for president in 1996--his campaign never caught on. George Ryan was the secretary of state in Illinois back then (for those not from Illinois, it means he was the DMV guy), and was an early endorser of Gramm. (Most of the state's big shot Republicans lined up behind the eventual GOP nominee, Bob Dole.)

From Mike Flannery of CBS 2 Chicago:

In a stunner, former Gov. George Ryan spoke out in the middle of his corruption trial, breaking his silence and lashing out at an important witness, former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm.

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm’s little noticed 1996 campaign for president took center stage Thursday. On the witness stand but out of the hearing of the jury, Gramm suggested that Ryan’s taking of thousands in consulting fees for the campaign after endorsing him for president was a form of prostitution.

Ryan was furious.

“I’m angry about some of the statements that were made today by former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm outside the presence of the jury. Mr. Gramm referred to me as a prostitute, and I really feel I absolutely have to respond to that,” Ryan said.

“I worked very hard for Phil Gramm. I raised money for him, I got delegates for him put on the ballot to see if he could win in the primary. I was paid about $11,000 for that and as a consulting fee, and I earned every penny of it,” he added.

“Mr. Gramm admitted in court today that the consulting fee had nothing to do with my decision to support him. If Senator Gramm wants to use the word prostitute perhaps he should look within,” Ryan said.

Back when Gramm was an obscure candidate for president, Ryan endorsed him, becoming Gramm's Illinois chairman. Ryan gave himself, his family and top deputies what his lawyers call legitimate campaign consulting contracts.

Prosecutors called it $30,000 worth of extortion.

More...

With the jury out of the courtroom, Gramm at one point declared:

"It's the difference between love and prostitution...you're looking for evidence of support not looking to buy support...you don't pay people to be your friends."

Ouch!

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