“The federal corruption trial of former Illinois governor George Ryan resumes in Chicago today. Ryan and lobbyist Larry Warner are accused of rigging state contracts in exchange for cash, gifts and vacations.
Ryans’ former chief of staff Scott Fawell will resume his place on the stand. An attorney for Warner is expected to begin his cross-examination of Fawell today.
Meantime, prosecutors want the jury to hear about a fatal accident that killed six children. The accident was crucial in launching their seven-year Operation Safe Road investigation into political corruption when Ryan was secretary of state from 1991 to 1999 and the four years afterward when he was governor.
Ryan’s defense attorney wants no mention of the accident, saying even a toned-down version would be wildly prejudicial.”