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CHICAGO (AP) - Former Gov. George Ryan was influenced by the advice of experts when awarding state contracts and leases, not by whether one of his friends or supporters had an interest in the deal, his defense attorney said Wednesday.
Attorney Dan K. Webb told jurors at Ryan's racketeering and fraud trial that prosecutors presented no evidence the former governor got involved in the details of such decisions.
"George Ryan never approved a contract or lease that was not recommended to him by the professional or technical people involved in that project," Webb said in the second day of his closing arguments. "He didn't approve any contract or lease until the proper people said: 'It's in the best interest (of the secretary of state's office), go ahead and approve it, boss.'"
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