Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan has qualified for a work release program that will allow him to leave prison five months before his scheduled release date, according to his attorney.
Ryan, 78, is serving a 6 1/2-year sentence at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., for a 2006 corruption conviction. He is scheduled to finish serving his sentence on July 4, 2013.
But Ryan's attorney, former Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson, told The Daily Journal in Kankakee that Ryan will move in early February from the prison to a halfway house in Chicago's West Loop as part of a work release program. It wasn't immediately clear what Ryan would be doing in the program.
A Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman would not confirm Ryan's work release date.
"It is a privacy and security issue," spokesman Chris Burke said.
On Monday, a federal court in Chicago denied Ryan's latest appeal seeking an early release from federal custody. Thompson said Ryan's attorneys will try to appeal again, although the U.S. Supreme Court already has said it wouldn't hear Ryan's case.
Thompson said that in the meantime, Ryan "sounds good. Sounds like the same old George." He said Ryan's son visits his father every week.
Ryan was convicted of steering state contracts and leases to insiders as secretary of state and then as governor -- receiving vacations and gifts in return. He also was accused of stopping an investigation into secretary of state employees accepting bribes for truck driver's licenses.
Thursday, May 23 2013 4:36 PM EDT2013-05-23 20:36:47 GMT
The Obama administration has picked a private attorney and former federal prosecutor to head the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Thursday.
The Obama administration has picked a private attorney and former federal prosecutor to head the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Thursday.
Amid lingering concerns about his national security policies, President Barack Obama is outlining measures to clarify the deadly use of drones against terror suspects.
President Barack Obama on Thursday defended America's controversial drone attacks as legal, effective and a necessary linchpin in an evolving U.S. counterterrorism policy. But he acknowledged the targeted strikes are no...
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:18 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:18:06 GMT
Illinois legislation allowing public possession of concealed guns has passed the House Judiciary Committee. It was a compromise backed by Speaker Michael Madigan.
Illinois legislation allowing public possession of concealed guns has passed the House Judiciary Committee. It was a compromise backed by Speaker Michael Madigan.
Anthony Weiner's run for a renaissance is officially on.
Anthony Weiner knows there may be a lot of New Yorkers who would never consider voting for him again, but he says he's running for mayor because he wants to bring his ideas to the fore - and win.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:45:07 GMT
Illinois public schools that teach sex education will have to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases instead of a curriculum focused on abstinence.
Illinois public schools that teach sex education will have to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases instead of a curriculum focused on abstinence.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:53 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:53:15 GMT
Illinois' congressional delegation has asked President Obama to add 16 Illinois counties to the list of those eligible to receive disaster aid after last month's flooding.
Illinois' congressional delegation has asked President Obama to add 16 Illinois counties to the list of those eligible to receive disaster aid after last month's flooding.
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