May 24, 2007 9:40 am US/Central
Ryan Says He'll Be Broke Without Pension
State Says Convicted Former Governor Must Forfeit Pension
CHICAGO (AP) ―
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Former Gov. George Ryan (File)
CBS
Former Gov. George Ryan's attorneys say he'll be broke unless a judge allows him to keep an approximately $60,000 yearly pension earned in public office before scandals led to his federal racketeering conviction last year.
Attorneys for Ryan, who filed a lawsuit to keep his pension in December, argued at a Wednesday hearing that the former governor should be allowed to keep his state pension earned during 24 years as a county board member, state representative and lieutenant governor.
Attorneys said Ryan was not accused of crimes in those years.
State retirement officials argued that Ryan must forfeit all pension benefits because the corruption occurred while he was a state employee.
Ryan was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison in September for mail fraud, money laundering, extortion, obstruction of justice and bribery during his time as secretary of state and governor, from 1991 to 2003.
In November, the General Assembly Retirement System board vote unanimously to take away Ryan's entire $197,000 annual pension, ruling that his conviction wiped out benefits built up from a 35-year career in public office.
Ray Mitchell, one of Ryan's attorneys, said Wednesday that unless the court steps in, "his family, his wife ... will be left with nothing," the Chicago Tribune reported its Web site.
Assistant Attorney General Ronald Rascia, representing the state retirement system, said giving Ryan his pension would set a bad precedent. He said corrupt state officials would be able to protect pensions by changing jobs often, knowing only their current position is at risk.
"Don't take the teeth out of (the state pension) statute, your honor," Rascia said at the hearing.
Cook County Circuit Judge Martin Agran is expected to rule next month.
Ryan also is appealing his conviction, and a federal appeals court has ruled he may remain free while the court reviews the case.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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