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Former Gov. George Ryan Awaits Decision on Request for Temporay Leave

By AP

Kankakee, IL – An attorney for former Illinois Gov. George Ryan says he remains in prison awaiting a ruling on his request to visit his wife of 55 years, who's in intensive care surrounded by her children.

Former Gov. James Thompson is one of Ryan's attorneys. He tells The Associated Press he and other lawyers were keeping in touch with prison authorities last night in hopes of winning their client's immediate release.

An emergency motion filed with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago Wednesday says ailing, 76-year-old Lura Lynn Ryan wanted to see her husband so she has a chance to say goodbye to him.

Thompson says attorneys also appealed directly to federal prison authorities to release George Ryan under a program allowing inmates temporary leave to visit gravely ill relatives.

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