By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – Former Governor George Ryan's conviction and prison sentence mean he must give up a lucrative state pension he accumulated over more than three decades in office. That's the opinion handed down Tuesday by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Madigan's office was asked for its legal opinion on the issue last week after Ryan was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison on corruption charges.
A state pension board said a recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling made it unclear whether Ryan would have to give up the entire pension because his conviction came from actions while he was governor and secretary of state.
He also served as a state lawmaker and lieutenant governor.
Madigan said Ryan's "misconduct and breach of public trust" is exactly what state law on forfeiting pensions was designed to handle.
Ryan served 36 years in state government and receives a nearly 200,000 dollar annual pension.