Overview
Stephen Ryan said that because the statute dealing with financial impropriety in programs that receive federal funds “really was intended to be theft – you reached into the piggy bank, and you took money,” it likely does not apply to the George Washington Bridge scandal since “that’s not what this is.” Mr. Ryan noted that making false statements to investigators would be more likely to mean criminal charges. “The cover-up is how you get screwed when you’re in politics,” he said. “It’s how you put your head in the noose.”