Former Bears kicker boots Ryan pension
Illinois Supreme Court just said George Ryan deserves no pension whatsoever because of his federal corruption conviction. Ryan sought to collect for the decades of service not directly tied to the conviction. That would have given him a nearly $70,000 annual state pension.
The state pension system stripped Ryan of his entire pension. An appeals court reinstated the early service and an appeal sent it to the state Supreme Court.
Justice Robert Thomas (a Wheaton Republican and a former Bears kicker) wrote the court's majority opinion. In it, he said the ruling fell under both established precedent and "the basic notions of justice."
George H. Ryan Sr., has clearly forfeited all of the pension benefits he earned from the General Assembly Retirement System. As the victims of Ryan's crimes, the taxpayers of the State of Illinois are under no obligation to now fund his retirement."
More detail to come ...
Kudos to Justice Thomas and the IL Supreme Court. Crime should not pay.