Unanswered Questions

For most of the public, the central question in the trial will be, “what did George Ryan know and when did he know it?” But there are other issues that bear watching:

1) In July, 2002, then-Governor Ryan issued an official press release from the governor’s office, announcing the creation of a legal defense fund to solicit contributions toward his mounting legal bills. Unlike his campaign warchest, which had become a de facto legal defense fund, the new fund was not covered by disclosure laws. At the time, Ryan said he would release the names of donors on December 1, 2002 and, going forward, annually on that date. But that day came and went, and the fund did not disclose the names of its donors. It is still soliciting donations on the Internet. Who has given to the fund? While still in office, was Ryan raising funds from lobbyists, contract seekers or holders, businesses regulated by the state, or other special interests?

2) In July, 2001, Citizens for George Ryan filed an amendment to its campaign disclosure report for the second half of 2000 showing a new, surprise receipt of $156,423.70 . The PAC claimed this was an “adjustment to bank account”. The cash was held at North Community Bank, where the PAC had not previously reported holding funds. Ryan co-defendant Larry Warner was, at the time, a director of North Community Bank. Will either Ryan or Warner give a full accounting of the source of these funds?