By AP/KWMU
Chicago, ILL. – The trial of another former Illinois Governor continues today (Monday).
The jury still hasn't been picked in the racketeering case against George Ryan. The judge in the case had hoped to hear opening statements last week, with the trial underway by now. But federal prosecutors and defense attorneys have haggled over potential jurors.
Prosecutors hope to prevent Ryan's lawyers from loading the jury with people sympathetic to the governor because of his decision to commute the sentences of Illinois' death row inmates.
Defense attorneys want to keep prosecutors from packing the jury with people who already see Ryan as tainted by political corruption.
Ryan has pleaded innocent to racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, lying to the FBI and tax fraud charges. Prosecutors say he handed out state contracts and leases to political insiders.