CHICAGO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Scott Fawell, a friend and former top aide to ex-Illinois Gov. George Ryan, took the stand Thursday to testify at Ryan's federal corruption trial in Chicago.
Fawell, 48, is serving a prison sentence and is cooperating with prosecutors. The cocky, wisecracking former Ryan campaign manager and chief of staff told jurors he was only on the witness stand to testify against his former boss because prosecutors "have my head in a vise, basically," the Chicago Tribune reported.
"I was kind of the in-house political guy," he said.
Ryan and co-defendant businessman Larry Warner are accused of using Ryan's political offices as Illinois secretary of state and later governor to enrich themselves.
Ryan was charged with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud and lying to FBI agents in 22-count indictment in December 2003. He served two years as secretary of state and one term as governor from 1999-2003.
