Former Ill. Governor (Ryan) Won't Testify

[DoYouEverWonder]

February 22, 2006

CHICAGO -- Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan will not testify in his own defense at his racketeering and fraud trial, his chief defense counsel said Wednesday.

Attorney Dan K. Webb told the federal judge he had recommended that Ryan decline to testify because he did not believe the government had proved its case.

The question of whether Ryan would take the witness stand has been hanging over the trial for weeks.

By testifying, Ryan would be able to tell his side of the scandal that has dominated state politics in Illinois for several years. But he also would have opened himself up to a detailed cross examination from tough federal prosecutors who have been working on the corruption investigation since 1998 -- before he was elected governor.

Webb also confirmed that Ryan's co-defendant, Larry Warner, was not planning to take the witness stand either, signaling that the marathon, five-month trial was nearing its final stage.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-governors-trial,0,4002886.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[Catch22Dem]

1. Ahhhh, the GOP's golden boy.

Just like the others.