Monday, January 29, 2007
Government Files Brief in Ryan Case
While Patrick J. Fitzgerald is busy prosecuting I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, his office back home in Chicago filed its brief in the case U.S. v Ryan. Former Governor Ryan had been convicted of fraud and other charges (see here). The brief responds to defense claims including arguments that "[t]he district court properly dismissed two jurors and replaced them with alternates," the mail fraud "honest services" provision was not vague, and that the RICO charge was proper. In the last argument, the government claims that the State of Illinois can be a proper RICO Enterprise. Although this last point has been held acceptable by other courts, it raises interesting federalism concerns that may at some point be addressed by higher courts.
(esp)
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/whitecollarcrime_blog/2007/01/government_file.html