From The Daily Herald:

Who runs the governor's campaign fund?

By Shamus Toomey Daily Herald Staff Writer

The federal judge presiding over the prosecution of Gov. George Ryan's
campaign committee had a seemingly simple question Thursday, but found
the answer elusive.

Who is in charge of the governor's campaign fund committee?

"I'm not exactly sure who is making the decisions," U.S. District
Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer said to the fund's lawyers, who, ultimately,
said they didn't know either.

Pallmeyer was interested because Citizens For Ryan treasurer Bernard
Weiner has signed a form agreeing to waive any conflicts of interest
that the law firm representing the committee might have. But prosecutors
who are trying to get the firm thrown off the case because of the
conflicts say that waiver is no good.

Weiner, a longtime Ryan friend who lives mostly in Arizona, has
told the FBI he never has been active in the committee and was just
a "figurehead" who signed campaign disclosure forms, according to
court documents. Prosecutors said he is not qualified to sign away
the committee's rights. The judge on Thursday appeared uneasy about
accepting Weiner's waiver.

"If I accept a waiver from a party, I want to know the person has
the authority," Pallmeyer said.

When the judge asked who signed checks written from the multimillion-dollar
fund, Citizens for Ryan attorney Mark Flessner said it was "some clerical
person."

"Who tells the clerical person to sign the checks?" Pallmeyer asked.

"We don't know because we don't get involved with that aspect of
it," said Robert Andalman, an attorney for Altheimer & Gray, the law
firm that prosecutors want removed.

Altheimer & Gray has represented as many as 10 witnesses who might
be called to testify against the committee at trial. It also has represented
the Illinois Secretary of State's office, which prosecutors say was
the main victim of the alleged corruption of Citizens for Ryan and
the indicted Scott Fawell, Ryan's former chief of staff when Ryan
was Illinois secretary of state.

Pallmeyer planned to rule on the proposed disqualification of Altheimer
& Gray on Thursday, but said she will rule May 23.