CDL scandal drives Illinois governor out of race

Aug. 9, 2001
A commercial driver’s license (CDL) bribery scandal has forced Illinois Governor George Ryan, a Republican, to give up running for a second term. To date, some 38 people in the state have been convicted under federal law for issuing CDLs to unqualified drivers in exchange for cash bribes to Ryan’s campaign fund. Ryan, who was Illinois’ secretary of state at the time, denied any knowledge of the bribes-for-license
A commercial driver’s license (CDL) bribery scandal has forced Illinois Governor George Ryan, a Republican, to give up running for a second term.

To date, some 38 people in the state have been convicted under federal law for issuing CDLs to unqualified drivers in exchange for cash bribes to Ryan’s campaign fund. Ryan, who was Illinois’ secretary of state at the time, denied any knowledge of the bribes-for-license scheme and has not been charged with any crime.

The bribes – which totaled some $170,000, according to prosecutors – were used as campaign contributions or to buy tickets to Ryan fundraising events. Although the governor maintained he had no knowledge of the scheme, several of his close associates were convicted, including Dean Bauer, the secretary of state inspector general at the time and a friend of Ryan’s since boyhood.

About the Author

Sean Kilcarr | Editor in Chief

Sean reports and comments on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry -- light and medium duty fleets up through over-the-road truckload, less-than-truckload, and private fleet operations Also be sure to visit Sean's blog Trucks at Work where he offers analysis on a variety of different topics inside the trucking industry.

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