By Associated Press
Chicago, IL – Former Illinois Governor George Ryan is charged with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, lying to federal agents and tax fraud. An indictment alleges Ryan received payoffs, gifts and vacations while he was secretary of state and governor in return for government contracts and leases. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says the charges "reflect a disturbing violation of trust."
Ryan, 69, is a Republican known worldwide as a leading critic of the death penalty. He 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.