From the Sun-Times:

Trial focus on lobbyist friend

January 11, 2006

BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter

An associate of a prominent lobbyist withdrew $3,000 from the bank about two hours before the lobbyist was to meet then-Gov. George Ryan at the state Capitol.

The associate testified Tuesday that he handed the cash over to the lobbyist, Arthur "Ron" Swanson.

The withdrawal occurred on Feb. 21, 2002 -- three days before Ryan's birthday.

The associate, Kent DeLay, could not connect the dots any further; he didn't actually see the two meet. But prosecutors did show Swanson's office calendar, which indicated a meeting scheduled with Ryan that afternoon. And a Feb. 24 entry read: "Gov's B-day."

Federal prosecutors charge that Swanson was among Ryan's kitchen cabinet who gave cash, gifts and paid for Ryan vacations while Ryan allegedly steered contracts and leases their way.

While several witnesses have testified they saw Ryan carrying wads of cash, prosecutors contend his bank records reflect just $6,700 in withdrawals from 1993 to 2002 and no ATM usage. At the same time, they have stated that Swanson withdrew more than $76,000 in cash in 2001 alone.

But DeLay told Ryan lawyer Bradley Lerman he never saw Ryan and Swanson exchange cash, and he couldn't say with certainty what time of day he gave Swanson the cash. Lerman also played down the significance of Ryan's birthday three days later, quickly pointing to half a dozen birthday entries in Swanson's calendar.

Fancy trips, meeting celebs

Swanson's 13-year mistress, Sandra McAvoy, also testified Tuesday about the longtime close relationship between Ryan and Swanson, who won a state lease and lobbying deals under Ryan.

McAvoy told of taking trips with Swanson, Ryan and his wife, Lura Lynn, to Lake Tahoe, Cancun and New York City. She said Swanson always carried lots of cash, sometimes thousands of dollars.

"He was a charismatic, flamboyant man who knew a lot of people," McAvoy said.

Prosecutors showed pictures of the four in various locales and with various celebrities, including Wayne Newton in the governor's mansion and New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner at a political fund-raiser in New York.

McAvoy said she was with Swanson when he bought Ryan gifts, including a pricey Lladro figurine and a golf bag. But she also said Swanson bought golf bags for other politicians, including former Gov. Jim Edgar.

Swanson got sweet deals

Under Ryan, Swanson won a sweetheart secretary-of-state lease at the Lincoln Towers office building in Springfield. State employees played with the square footage to conceal the higher-than-average rent cost, according to testimony.

Ryan also tipped off Swanson to the state awarding Grayville a prison site, a former Ryan aide has testified. Swanson used that information to land a $50,000 lobbying contract. Ryan also allegedly told McPier CEO and his former chief of staff Scott Fawell to give Swanson a cut of McPier's lobbying money, according to testimony.

Another Swanson office manager, Grace Davis, said Tuesday in a stipulated statement that while Swanson was paid $60,000 a year for his McPier lobbying work, she was unaware of any work he did for it. Davis also said Swanson typically gave cash gifts as birthday presents and knew of him giving some secretary of state workers $100 to $200.

Swanson has pleaded guilty to a perjury charge and is still awaiting sentencing. Prosecutors said they will not call Swanson as a witness.


HIGHLIGHTS

PROSECUTION: Witnesses tell of George Ryan's ties to "flamboyant" lobbyist Arthur "Ron" Swanson, who withdrew chunks of cash just before meeting with Ryan.

DEFENSE: No one ever saw Swanson put cash in Ryan's hand, nor did they see Swanson pay Ryan's way on numerous trips the pals took together.

UP NEXT: Cross-examination of an insurance agent who said Ryan's co-defendant, Lawrence Warner, worked an insurance claim for Ryan in 1996.