From The Associated Press, 9/27/05:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-governor-trial,0,4367346.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Jurors Chosen for Ill. Ex-Governor Trial

By MIKE ROBINSON
Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO --

A jury was chosen Tuesday for former Gov. George Ryan's racketeering
and fraud trial, and lawyers got ready for opening statements
Wednesday morning.

The 12 members and six alternates, selected after eight days of
interviews with potential jurors, were to be sworn in before the
opening statements at the federal trial.

Ryan, 71, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, lying
to FBI agents and tax fraud.

Also charged in the 22-count indictment is a lobbyist and friend,
Larry Warner.

Ryan is accused of allowing Warner to steer lucrative state contracts
and leases to his clients when Ryan was secretary of state from 1991
to 1999.

Both men insist they did nothing illegal.

Federal prosecutors allege the Ryan administration doled out millions
of dollars to political insiders, resulting in charges being brought
against 79 people, including many state employees.

Ryan's former chief of staff, Scott Fawell, is serving a 6 1/2-year
sentence.

Prosecutors have said Fawell is scheduled to be the first witness
against Ryan and could be on the stand as long as three weeks.

Ryan was elected secretary of state in 1990, served two four-year
terms and was elected governor in 1998.

But he retired after just one term as the scandal grew.

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Oh those Republican scandals.

Harry