Outgoing BALCO prosecutor: Probe to go on
By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY
SAN FRANCISCO — Kevin V. Ryan, the federal prosecutor who has led the investigation into sports' biggest steroid scandal, says he wants to continue his efforts even after announcing plans to leave his job as U.S. attorney.
Ryan was appointed by President Bush in 2002 as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California and shortly after began handling the probe of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, which has been at the center of a widespread doping scandal.
The investigation has led to seven indictments, including track coach Trevor Graham's and cyclist Tammy Thomas' late last year, and five convictions, Ryan said. In addition, the office continues to investigate slugger Barry Bonds for possible tax evasion and perjury charges.
"I don't know what the future holds for me," Ryan told USA TODAY, "but when I leave, this (investigation) won't just fall off the map. The infrastructure is in place. We have good prosecutors on it. A good review process. Good institutional knowledge. So when I move on, there are those that can carry forward with it without a problem.
"I think we have had a tremendous impact in this case, and I understand there still needs to be open dialogue and debate about it. For those reasons, I'm still interested. If the opportunity presents itself in the future that I can still be involved in it, I'll avail myself to it."
Ryan is one of 11 top federal prosecutors who have announced their resignation as a result of a provision in the USA Patriot Act reauthorization last year that enabled the U.S. attorney general to appoint replacements without Senate confirmation.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., complained on the Senate floor Tuesday that the White House is using the provision to oust Ryan and other federal prosecutors and replace them with Republican allies.
Ryan and spokesman Luke Macaulay declined to say whether Ryan was asked to resign, saying they reached a "mutually agreeable decision with Washington." Ryan did not say when his last day will be, but he expects to remain on the job for several more weeks.
"These jobs are temporary jobs, and people come and go," Ryan says. "But I think we made a tremendous impact. This case, whether measured by the courtroom or the greater arena of public opinion, it has been a success. I'm proud of what we've done.
"This case has been for the good. It has been the right thing to do, and it has had the right impact.
"And we're not done."
Contributing: The Associated Press
