Breaking; Verdict reached in Former IL Gov. Ryan's (R) trial.

[benburch]

No word yet on when it will be announced.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. So I guess that means there will be a news conference?

I'll have to misss it since I've got cable (WGN) at home.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Cool!

Hoping, hoping, hoping...


Checking WGN and the other locals.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Channel 5 saying participants gathering a courthouse to hear

verdict. Awaiting arrival of Ryan and other co-defendants.

Please!....

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Supposed to be announcing at 11:15 n/t

[benburch]

6. I'm listening to WBBM-780

I'll post as soon as I know.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Five will be live

About 10 minutes! AGH! Can't hardly stand the wait on this!

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. ***sigh*** It's 11:26...***sigh*** n/t

[Mr.Green93]

5. Any guesses?

I guess NG. But hope for guilty.

[benburch]

7. Guilty.

They proved the case.

[spuddonna]

9. I haven't had my coffee yet... Didn't Fitz head up this case?

I thought I'd heard that he was one of the lead prosecutors... But I'm too foggy this morning to be sure. :hangover:

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. He indicted, but I don't think he's the one in the courtroom

Could be wrong about that. :shrug:

[spuddonna]

13. Thanks! I like these quick checks on my sanity... :)

Make sure my brain isn't too scrambled! :7

[AngryAmish]

28. You are right

It would be extremely, extremely rare for a sitting US Attorney to try a case in a big jurisdiction. Fitz guides the prosecutions not day to day stuff in the courtroom.

[Norquist Nemesis]

30. Just reported that Fitzie's in the courtroom. Lead prosecutor is

Pat Collins. :)

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. Ryan's in the house! Minutes away...

*biting nails*

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. LOL! "George! How ya feelin' today?!"

Reporter shouts across the room and Ryan walks on stonefaced as if he doesn't hear her. I guess he's a little...pre-occupied.

:rofl:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. Any links on the background story?

[Norquist Nemesis]

15. Well, it's been going on for two years here

Here's the initial story announcing the indictment and charges.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-031217ryindict,1,3034194.story?coll=chi-homepagepromo451-fea

Tribune staff reports
Published December 17, 2003, 7:09 PM CST

Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan was charged today in a federal racketeering indictment with conspiracy and fraud while he was governor and secretary of state.

Ryan allegedly engaged in a pattern of corruption that included performing official government acts, awarding lucrative government contracts and leases and using the State of Illinois for his own benefit, members of his family, his campaign organization and certain associates, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

"I submit that the citizens of this state expect honest government from the secretary of state or the governor," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said during a news conference this afternoon at the Dirksen Building in downtown Chicago. "They deserve nothing less."
...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

17. cnn headline news has the verdict announcement...

but not the verdict. aggghhh!

[Norquist Nemesis]

18. Could go either way...

*still nail biting*

[benburch]

19. I NEED to run out.

So, will one of you post the verdict in the thread when it happens?

THANKS.

[Norquist Nemesis]

20. Gotcha!

Unless they drag this thing till 12:45...then I need to run out for a bit.

[Justice Is Comin]

21. When that one is off

of Fitzgerald's plate, we can get our popcorn ready for the Rove indictment. That Ryan group has been consuming an enormous amount of his time and rightly so.

But he didn't impanel that new Washington grand jury for nothing. In fact I think I'll have a bag just thinking about that. :popcorn:

[ronnykmarshall]

22. Keep us posted!

[Norquist Nemesis]

24. GEEZ!!! For as long as this has been getting live coverage

I could've had my shower, dried my hair, done two loads of laundry and taken out the trash! :grr:

I wish they'ld just started the live coverage after George walked into the courtroom instead of all of this crap they have going right now.

[ronnykmarshall]

27. No kidding.

Typical media overkill.

This banter of Ch 5 is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[ronnykmarshall]

23. NBC Chicago Ch 5 - Live Video

http://www.nbc5.com/video/5825372/index.html

[Catherine Vincent]

26. Thanks!

[Catherine Vincent]

83. Fitzy is on now!

[greatauntoftriplets]

25. Here's the Tribune article...so far.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060417ryantrial,0,4525779.story?coll=chi-homepagepromo440-fea

[Norquist Nemesis]

29. Fitzgerald in the courtroom; Pat Collins, lead prosecutor is...

not yet on site.

Prosecutors looking relaxed; Defense attorneys on edge.

[ronnykmarshall]

31. You must be streaming Ch 5, too.

I hope they get this done in an hour. I have a meeting at 11 (pacific).

[Norquist Nemesis]

32. Local...thinking about checking another local station

ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Aha! Channel 2 (CBS), Channel 3 (Fox), and Channel 7 (ABC) all have the same format! :banghead:

[Norquist Nemesis]

33. Still waiting for Collins. ***sigh***

It's looking like he's AWOL. :shrug:

[ronnykmarshall]

34. Oh good they're talking about who's wearing what.

I'm suprised Joan and Melissa aren't there.

Gov. Ryan? Who are you wearing??

[Norquist Nemesis]

35. LOL! Headline is "Verdict WATCH"

:rofl:

At least they are commenting on the delay being unusual. WTH is Collins!!!

[ronnykmarshall]

36. No kidding?

What's taking Collins so long to get to court?

[ronnykmarshall]

37. Collins is THERE!

[Norquist Nemesis]

38. Judge on the Bench! Here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

39. I lost Ch 5 for a minute ... back up now.

Let's go!

[Lochloosa]

40. What channel are you streaming?

[ronnykmarshall]

42. Ch 5.

NBC Chicago.

[Norquist Nemesis]

44. Local TV coverage

It's on all the locals here right now. :)

[Norquist Nemesis]

41. Jurors filing in... no cameras in courtroom

FBI agents told all reporters to turn off their phones in the overflow rooms

Reporters will be using blackberries to get word out one by one on charges
Warner up first; then Ryan

[ronnykmarshall]

43. What station are you on?

[Norquist Nemesis]

45. Channel 7 at the moment...flipping between 5 and 7

ABC and NBC

[ronnykmarshall]

46. Stream must be delayed from broadcast.

You'll know before we do on the web.

[Lochloosa]

50. Quilty!

[Norquist Nemesis]

47. 1st verdict Warner; count 1 raqueteering GUILTY!

[ronnykmarshall]

48. Wow!

Here it goes!

[ronnykmarshall]

52. RYAN GUILTY!!

[Norquist Nemesis]

49. Count 22 against Ryan; false tax returns -- GUILTY!

[Norquist Nemesis]

53. They're skipping around on reading the counts against defendants

[Norquist Nemesis]

Count 17 Warner - structuring money--GUILTY! AND RYAN!!!!!!

GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS!

[ronnykmarshall]

55. RYAN GUILTY ALL CHARGES!!

[malaise]

59. One more Rethug crook guilty

Great news

[jeffrey_X]

51. nice!

...

[benburch]

54. GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS!

[ronnykmarshall]

57. Another one bites the dust.

[Norquist Nemesis]

58. WOOHOO!!!! YES!

:WOOHOO:

False statements, tax fraud, EVERYTHING!!!

[Norquist Nemesis]

56. GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS--BOTH OF THEM!!!!

[malaise]

61. On CNN now

very brief comment

[w8liftinglady]

74. yes!!!!

[cal04]

60. they're discussing it here on video

in Chicago
http://wbbm.dayport.com/viewer/viewerpage.php?Art_ID=1002&tf=video_player.tpl&PreloadContract_DefID=1&Contract_DefID=2&Category_ID=5

[ronnykmarshall]

63. Chicago Trib ..... also live stream WGN

http://www.chicagotribune.com/

[Domitan]

62. What do you think the sentence will be?

Being guilty on all these counts would bring many years, right?

[Norquist Nemesis]

65. Sentencing on August 4th

Ryan had 22 counts against him. Even if each of those had a minimum of one year...

Depends on how the judge chooses to combine things and put victims into play. Specutators (talking heads on CH 7) are saying min. 10 max 20+ possible.

[NNN0LHI]

64. Don't think Bush and his thugs aren't watching this closely n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

67. Denny's probably already rec'd word, too.

But you're right about Bush watching closely. I hope Fitzie's protection gets a boost.

[benburch]

68. DENNY is JUST as filthy. nt

[Norquist Nemesis]

69. True! n/t

[LSK]

66. heres a good read

http://www.nbc5.com/politics/8507704/detail.html

Now we have to get this known out there. This has to help Blago.

[Norquist Nemesis]

70. Uh-oh...Ryan's heading for the microphones!

:rofl:

And walks right past them! :rofl:

[Norquist Nemesis]

71. Attorney speaking..."very disappointed"

Ryan looking shell shocked

[ronnykmarshall]

72. Here comes the bullshit spin.

[Norquist Nemesis]

76. Thanks to the media??? n/t

gotta run!

[Norquist Nemesis]

73. Will try to get verdict overturned based on jury deliberation stuff

:eyes:

[ronnykmarshall]

77. What an asshole.

Blame the jury.

Jerk

[benburch]

82. What would you expect the lawyer to say?

That's his job!

If I were convicted of something like this and my lawyer DIDN'T say that, I'd be SO pissed off.

[Rich Hunt]

75. all racketeers

...should be given life sentences, not just one man who is a convenient target.

You're either against Republicans as a rule, or you're against corruption and racketeering.

So let's talk about racketeering, let's see how many people know what it is and what it does to people, how it destroys lives.

[rateyes]

81. It is far from being a victimless crime...

isn't it? Not to mention the effects it has when the racketeer is charged with governing!

[cascadiance]

78. Another face to add to the Republican "felons" card deck to come out later

Let's see, we already have the follwing to put on there:

- Duke Cunningham
- Jack Abramoff
- Jack Ryan
- George Libby
- Bob Taft
- Galen Fox
- Chuck McGee
- Allen Raymond
- Brian Hicks
- Cherie Carroll
- Dan Doyle
- Vince Cianci
- Bill Janklow

Soon to come:
- Tom Delay
- Ann Coulter
- Rush Limbaugh?
- Bob Ney
- Dennis Hastert
- Bill Frist
- David Safavian
- Tom Noe
- George Bush
- Karl Rove
- Bill Cheney
- Ernie Fletcher
- Katherine Harris
- Christopher Cox
- Kenneth Blackwell
- John Rowland
- George Voinovich
- Ben Stevens
- Richard Pombo
- John Doolittle
- Michael Scanlon
- Steve Rosen
- Keith Weissman
- Larry Franklin
- Kenneth Tomlinson
- Tom Feeney
- Ralph Reed
- Dalton Tanonaka
- Lee Daniels
- Bob Kjellander
- Mitch Daniels
- Chris Chocola
- Jim Kittle
- Thomas Sharp
- Dan Burton
- Charles Grassley
- Jim Ryun
- Adam Taff
- Dan Druen
- Stephen Pence
- Dave Disponett
- Joseph Steffen
- Lawrence Novak
- Candice Miller
- Matt Blunt
- Roy Blunt
- Conrad Burns
- Jon Porter
- John Sununu
- James Tobin
- Tom Wilson
- Mike Ferguson
- Jeanine Pirro
- Froilan Tenorio
- Charles Taylor
- Hayes Martin
- Richard Clayburgh
- Jean Schmidt
- Douglas Moormann
- Walden O'Dell
- Don Sherwood
- Mike Fitzpatrick
- Mike Battles
- Joe Wilson (SC Rep)
- Gresham Barrett
- Henry Brown
- Jim Ellis
- John Colyandro
- Warren RoBold
- Tom Craddick
- Todd Baxter
- Kevin Brady
- Pete Sessions
- Virgil Goode
- Jerry Kilgore
- Jim West
- Shelly Moore Capito
- Mark Green
- Brian Doyle

Looks like we might have enough for two or three decks!

Any one have picks on how we should assign which cards for each?

[DemReadingDU]

80. That's quite a list!

Thanks!

[cascadiance]

84. I didn't even add half of those investigated for Abramoff funding...

It would probably have about another 30 or so names added to it.

[cal04]

79. Talking about the jury foreman who they talked to and an

alternate and Denise Peterson on the jury
she said when the witnesses took the stand, the employees from the sec of state's office, that was crucial
connecting the testimony made a difference

[Imagevision]

85. Another Crooked Republican is exposed and found guilty - as they

dig themselves a deeper hole to bury the repug BS. in...! Every little bit helps to get rid of them in November!!