Lawyers for George Ryan go before appeals court - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Lawyers for George Ryan go before appeals court

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CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago is considering what could be former Illinois Governor George Ryan's last chance at a new trial.

Federal prosecutors argued Friday Ryan should stay in prison for the rest of his 6 ½ year sentence, which ends in July 2013.   Ryan's lawyers argued today there's no clear evidence the former governor took bribes, and his convictions on bribery counts should be overturned.
 
"Just because a politician does a favor for a friend, who may have given the politician gifts, taken him on vacation, or has known him forever, that does not prove bribery," said former Illinois Governor James Thompson, who is serving as one of Ryan's attorneys.

There's no word when the Seventh Circuit will reach a decision.   Ryan could move from his Terre Haute, Ind., prison to a halfway house in January 2013, and serve the remainder of his sentence there.

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