Chicago
A jury this week convicted former Illinois Gov. George Ryan of 18 felonies, including fraud, racketeering, and lying to investigators. Prosecutors said Ryan, 72, accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts in exchange for steering state contracts to friends and associates. Some of the infractions took place when Ryan served as secretary of state in the 1990s, and some during his single four-year term as governor, starting in 1999. The verdict came after a six-month trial and five weeks of deliberations. “Today’s verdict proves that no one is above the law,” said Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Ryan’s successor. Ryan, a Republican, now faces up to 20 years in prison.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Donald Trump takes a cognitive test | May 13 editorial cartoonsCartoons Tuesday's editorial cartoons feature a 'Bribe Force 1' 747 from Qatar, the concepts of a trade deal, ICE agents surrounding the Statue of Liberty, and cuts to Medicaid.
-
Why are white South Africans emigrating?The Explainer As the US welcomes Afrikaner refugees, the general exodus of South Africa's white population continues to grow
-
Why the weather keeps getting 'stuck'In the Spotlight Record hot and dry spring caused by 'blocked' area of high pressure above the UK
