CHICAGO Former Gov. Ryan faces charges of corruption while in office

CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Gov. George Ryan has been charged with presiding over more than a decade of corruption involving millions of dollars in state contracts, as well as taking free vacations, participating in tax fraud, lying to federal agents and even skimming cash out of his own campaign fund.
But prosecutors say the 22-count indictment Wednesday that could send Ryan to prison for years is anything but the final chapter in the 51/2-year investigation of Illinois corruption.
"This investigation will continue aggressively, passionately and fairly, and we will take this evidence wherever it leads," lead prosecutor Patrick M. Collins said.
Prosecutors said the 69-year-old Republican and his family took cash, gifts, vacations and other favors to steer state business to friends and associates while he was governor and, before that, Illinois secretary of state.
"Basically the state of Illinois was for sale," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.
Ryan did not immediately return a call for comment, and no one answered the door at his home in Kankakee.
Statement
His attorney, Dan K. Webb, issued a statement saying he was confident Ryan "will be exonerated and a jury will find him not guilty of all charges."
Ryan, who served as secretary of state from 1991 to 1999 and governor from 1999 to last January, has said he knew there was a culture of corruption in the secretary of state's office but was unaware of the specifics.
He becomes the fourth Illinois governor indicted in the past 40 years.