Ryan campaign's attorneys not sure who makes decisions

CHICAGO -- A federal judge asked attorneys for Gov. George Ryan's campaign Thursday who makes decisions for the organization and was told that they were unable to pinpoint any one person in charge.

The exchange came at a hearing in a racketeering case prosecutors have brought against Citizens for Ryan and former campaign manager Scott Fawell. They are accused of secretly using public money and employees to work on various political campaigns, including the 1998 governor's race.

The charges are the latest installment in the government's three-year investigation of corruption that took place when Ryan was secretary of state, including bribes paid in return for drivers licenses.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer is trying to determine whether attorneys from the firm of Altheimer & Gray have so many conflicts of interest they must be replaced as the campaign's lawyers. Federal prosecutors say the firm should be disqualified because it has represented five to 10 people who could be government witnesses as well as Fawell himself, who now has other lawyers.

Pallmeyer said she was confused over just who was in charge at Citizens for Ryan. She said it was doubtful that longtime Ryan friend Bernard Weiner, who signs the campaign's checks, is in charge. "Who gives the instructions to sign those checks?" she asked.

'We don't know'

"We don't know because we don't get involved with that aspect of it," said Robert Andalman, an Altheimer & Gray attorney.

Pallmeyer said it was important to know who was in charge to make sure that "anyone making the decisions isn't conflicted, himself."

At another point, when she asked who was in charge, Altheimer & Gray attorney Mark Flessner said it was hard to pinpoint anyone.

"The government in this case has chosen to indict an entity that is not functioning," he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins shot back that the campaign is functioning and sizable checks are being written on its account to pay legal expenses. He said the matter of who was in charge was "a very simple question that they don't want to answer."

"They don't want to tell you who their principal is," Collins said. "It is not Mr. Weiner."

Pallmeyer did not force the issue. She promised to rule in two weeks on whether Altheimer & Gray may stay on as the campaign's counsel.