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Jack Ryan Divorce Papers Released

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Jack Ryan (right) are running for Illinois' open U.S. Senate seat.
Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Jack Ryan (right) are running for Illinois' open U.S. Senate seat.

By AP/KWMU/IL Public Radio

Chicago, ILl. – Divorce records from 1999 for the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois were made public Monday.

Jack Ryan's ex-wife, actress Jeri Lynn Ryan, charged in those records that Ryan had pressured her to have sex with him in clubs while others watched.

She said she angered Ryan by refusing.

Ryan referred reporters' questions about the allegations last night to his reaction in the records. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to reopen those discussions. It's not helpful," Ryan said.

"My first priority is being a good Dad and making sure I work well with Jeri Lynn, and I'm not going to reopen those conversations."

Ryan says in the records he had arranged the romantic getaways, but they didn't include the type of activities she described.

His opponent in the race, Democrat Barack Obama, says the records shouldn't play a role in the campaign because they're not as important as other issues voters care about.

Last Thursday, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ordered that some of the Ryan divorce documents should be unsealed at the asking of two Chicago media outlets.

In the divorce file, Jack Ryan said he had been "faithful and loyal" to his wife throughout their marriage.

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