By AP/KWMU
Chicago, Ill. – A federal judge has refused to toss out a criminal indictment against former Illinois Governor George Ryan. Ryan's lawyers had asked for the move. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer rejected the request in a 55-page opinion.
Ryan was charged in December with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud, filing false tax returns and making false statements as part of the government's six-year Licenses for Bribes investigation, called Operation Safe Road.
He has pleaded innocent to all charges. Ryan's trial is scheduled for March of 2005.