Chicago ? Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan won accolades for clearing the state’s death row, but a scandal that destroyed his popularity and made him unelectable in 2002 has now brought him to a critical confrontation.

Accused of doling out big-money state contracts and leases to political insiders, the 71-year-old veteran politician is scheduled to go to trial today, charged in a 22-count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, lying to the FBI and tax fraud.

He denies the charges and says he’ll be acquitted.

“They haven’t got one witness that said they gave me a corrupt dollar or they paid me off in any fashion with money,” the husky-voiced Republican said in a July interview with Chicago’s WGN-TV.

Ryan and his co-defendant, lobbyist Larry Warner, are due in court today for jury selection.

The charges grew out of the federal government’s Operation Safe Road, which initially focused on bribes exchanged for drivers licenses but over seven years expanded into a full-blown investigation of political corruption when Ryan was secretary of state and later governor.

Seventy-nine people – including many state employees – have been charged, 73 convicted and none acquitted.