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Fawell Ditches Bad-Boy Attitude In Ryan Trial

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Oct 3, 2005 7:05 pm US/Central

Fawell Ditches Bad-Boy Attitude In Ryan Trial

by Mike Flannery
CHICAGO (CBS) ― There was a dramatic change in demeanor Monday from the government's star witness in the corruption trial of former Governor George Ryan.

Scott Fawell ditched last week's bad-boy attitude, showing up today as co-operative, mild-mannered and polite.

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports from the Dirksen Federal Building on the sudden change.

Fawell's own personal attorney, Jeffrey Steinback, got involved. He spoke with his client over the weekend.

Steinback told Fawell that his wise-acre demeanor could jeopardize his plea deal and that of his fiancée, who faces criminal charges of her own. They both hope Fawell's cooperation with the government will help, or even eliminate, any jail time they face.

"I don't think he thinks he hasn't cooperated. I don't think he's trying to do anything intentionally other than to cooperate. So you'll have to see and time will tell as the rest of this week unwinds how he behaves. But I think that he is behaving as well as he can, and I think obviously today, quite admirably," Steinback said.

On the witness stand Monday, government prosecutor Patrick Collins used Fawell to portray Ryan as anything but the humble, modest pharmacist from Kankakee.

Fawell described gambling junkets to Las Vegas, private plane trips and more trips to play blackjack and craps at Illinois riverboats.

In 1997, Fawell was shown a photo of Ryan at a craps table. He confronted Ryan about the political liability.

Fawell described Ryan as a big tipper, dropping as much as $50 at a time.

Fawell said he and Ryan flew for free on a private plane to Bulls playoff games in Orlando, Cleveland and New York.

Prosecutor Collins said co-defendant Larry Warner arranged for the planes.

Ryan's attorney Dan Webb failed to get the flight testimony tossed out.

"My client's been hurt. I think in a substantial way. The government's using the Orlando trip to show him as a high flyer," Webb said.

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