By AP/KWMU
Chicago, Ill. – A federal appeals court has granted bail to former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, which means he won't have to report to prison after the first of the year. He'll be allowed to stay out of prison while he appeals his racketeering and fraud conviction.
The decision by the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals was issued without explanation Tuesday.
Ryan was convicted in April of steering lucrative state contracts and leases to lobbyists and friends and using state employees and tax dollars to operate his political campaigns.
District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer had refused to grant bail to Ryan while he is appealing his 6.5-year federal prison sentence.
But the appeals court overruled her and said Ryan may remain free while he appeals his conviction. He had been due to report to prison January Fourth.
Federal prosecutors opposed any bond for Ryan. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office says the government won't have any comment.