Implications for Daley, Blagojevich

More fallout from the Ryan trial. Hat tip Capitol Fax, Northwest Indiana Times:

But legal observers said Tuesday that the former governor's conviction could spell trouble for Daley as well as for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. They said Daley and Blagojevich had ample cause for concern because Ryan was found to have intentionally ignored the corrupt activities of his employees while he was secretary of state.

"I think (Daley's and Blagojevich's) concept of insulation has just deteriorated very, very rapidly," said Dan Sprehe, chief investigator for the Better Government Association. "The idea that the person at the top would never be put on trial -- that whole fallacy is gone."

Is Governor Blagojevich "Public Official A"?

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office also is looking into the Blagojevich administrations' practices of awarding contracts.

Stuart Levine, a Highland Park lawyer, has been charged in connection with a kickback scheme that sought to direct state pension fund business to politically-connected consultants who were chosen by a high ranking government figure known as "Public Official A" in court documents.

Though Blagojevich is not named in any court filings, he is widely suspected to be "Public Official A," and prosecutors have done little to quash that speculation.

Political observers say this will be an issue in the fall campaign.