CHICAGO — The Illinois Supreme Court says former Gov. George Ryan must forfeit all of his state pension for crimes he committed as secretary of state and governor.
Ryan is currently serving a 6 1/2-year racketeering and fraud sentence. He had been hoping to salvage a $60,000-a-year pension, based on his years as a state lawmaker and lieutenant governor.
Ryan wasn’t convicted of committing any crimes when he held those offices.
But the high court ruled 6-1 on Friday that he’s ineligible for any state pension.
Before his conviction, Ryan had been due to draw a pension of more than $197,000.
Meanwhile, there’s a new campaign to get Ryan out of prison. Ryan’s wife and lawyer are asking President Barack Obama to grant the former governor clemency.
His lawyer said Ryan has already been punished: he’s broke and his wife has a life-threatening illness.
Lura Lynn Ryan has terminal lung disease and is on oxygen 24 hours a day.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.
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