Prosecutors oppose early release for George Ryan

Federal prosecutors say a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the definition of "honest services" fraud doesn't mean former Gov. George Ryan should get an early release from his 6½-year prison term.

Ryan's lawyers contend the Supreme Court ruling in former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling's case applies to Ryan and say Ryan's 2006 conviction on eight of 22 counts corruption counts should be thrown out.

But in a response filedThursday, prosecutors said Ryan's convictions would stand because they involved received bribes and kickbacks. The prosecutors told the Chicago Tribune the Supreme Court considers such crimes "core" to honest services violations.

Ryan has served about three years of his sentence. Because his 73-year-old wife, Lura Lynn Ryan, is terminally ill, Ryan has also asked to be released on bond while U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer considers his case.