From the Chicago Sun-Times

Ryan needs $2 million for legal defense
BY TIM NOVAK AND STEVE WARMBIR Staff Reporters
Former Gov. George Ryan needs about $2 million to defend himself against corruption charges, his friend and adviser, former Gov. James R. Thompson, said Wednesday.
And Thompson is going to help raise it once the holidays are over.
"George has a defense fund that was started a year or so ago, and we intend to expand that,'' said Thompson, chairman of Winston & Strawn, the powerhouse law firm representing Ryan.
"I intend to get active in that,'' Thompson said. "We did the same for Congressman Rostenkowski. Friends and supporters will help pay for George Ryan's defense.
"It would have to come from people who thought Gov. Ryan did good things.''
Thompson said he had no idea how much money is in Ryan's defense fund, which is not open to public viewing, but he said it will take about $2 million to pay for the defense team led by Dan Webb, the top defense lawyer at Winston & Strawn.
Ryan, who was lieutenant governor under Thompson from 1983 until 1991, has relied on Thompson for legal advice over the past several years during the federal investigation. But Thompson said, "I'm not part of the legal team.''
Ryan won't be spending his personal money on his legal defense, Webb told reporters, because "he has no personal assets.''
Ryan, according to Webb, has very limited assets: a home in Kankakee, his Social Security checks and his $128,000 annual state pension that will jump to $185,000 next month. And Ryan's campaign fund is nearly broke.
He spent more than $2.4 million in campaign funds to pay legal fees during the past six years, leaving him with about $10,000, not nearly enough to pay Webb.
"Look, I've known George Ryan for 20 years in government,'' Webb said. "He's my friend. I believe in him. I'm convinced he's innocent. And if he can't pay my legal bills, I'll live with that.''