Durbin May Ask Bush To Pardon Former Governor Ryan

Senator Richard Durbin says he may ask the president to commute the prison sentence of former Illinois Governor George Ryan.

Durbin says he hasn't taken any action yet and doesn't know whether he will.

But he added, "I am considering it at this moment."

The Illinois Democrat made the comments Tuesday at a news conference on an unrelated topic.

Ryan is serving a 6½-year sentence for racketeering and other offenses.

The one-term Republican governor steered state leases and contracts to cronies, killed a bribery investigation and used state resources to run his political campaigns.

Durbin didn't elaborate on why he might seek leniency for Ryan.

Comments

[johnnygoodwud]

hey dick, you do that and i promise i will never, i repeat never vote for you again, and do everything to make sure others do the same.

[whognu]

Why put the seal of approval on political corruption by making sure he does not serve a just sentence, levied properly under our system? Procedure was followed, he is guilty, and justice needs to be served not only to punish him, but to deter others from similar crimes.

[Tinsdale]

Why?
Senator Durbin needs a reality check. Mr. Durbin, you lay down with dogs, you may get fleas.

The Senator should have reviewed Patrick Fitzgerald's remarks about Mr. Ryan after his conviction.
Ryan showed no remorse, no apologies, no contrition and was aggressively combative. Ryan is a crook and another stain on the State of Illinois and his office. His conviction was supposedly a warning that corruption would have consequences. Now comes Durbin to put an end to that high-minded nonsense.
Children died as a result of Ryan's malfeasance. Others served time because they did his bidding. Many of those acted due to pressure or fear of job loss. All of this Ryan has met with a snarl and never a tear, even to this day. Mr.Ryan deserves to serve his full sentence.

[SickStan]

I hate George Ryan. He was a horribly corrupt SOS and an even worse govnernor. He deserves more jailtime. Why not throw Blag in there with him?

[ChicagoBryan]

When will this stop? Essentially, Durbin is throwing a bone to the Republicans so that they aren't angry when he asks Obama for clemency of Blago. I am a Democrat, and a progressive one at that, but I have no patience for corrupt politicians. Ryan should stay in jail, where he belongs.

What makes me most angry is that thousands of Illinois citizens are currently incarcerated for crimes (mostly drug offenses) that are nowhere near as grave as the one for which Ryan is currently sitting in the slammer--yet they don't get clemency.

The good people of the great state of Illinois have spoken, Mr. Durbin. Don't cheapen the criminal justice system for one, unless you're willing to do it for all.

[VOTER]

No!

Do the crime and serve the time.
This is the standard for average citizens and pols should be held
to the same standard.
If Durbin wants to rally a commutation for an Illinois citizen,
there are more deserving.

[sushi27]

I did not vote for Ryan, but do think he has suffered enough - commuting his sentence is not a pardon. He is an old man, just being humiliated and going to jail was enough. Keeping him until he dies would be truly vindictive and serve no purpose. Yes, he made mistakes, but I don't believe he was an evil man.

[Pippilangstrumpf]

Of course it serves a purpose.

It may be too late for Ryan, because obviously he has shown no remorse for his actions, he remains as arrogant now as when he went in.

But the purpose this serves is as an example to other politicians who think they can get away with murder and then serve light sentences or get nothing at all, or get out early just because they're old or whatever other excuse they can come up with.

I see 80 year olds outside jogging past my house every day....so I don't care how old this guy is. He's a criminal and he should serve his time.

[Tinsdale]

The poor dear!

[Eric8869]

Why would Dick Durbin do such a thing? What a horrible mistake.

Unless George Ryan can bring back the lives of the kids killed due to his "scandal" he should remain in jail.

[sushi27]

yes, it was a horrible accident, but still don't believe Ryan was an evil man.

[VOTER]

Describe evil.

Is Bush an evil man?

Is Cheney an evil man?

Where do you draw the line?

[Denmark2]

It is a little more complicated, for he is way better compared to GWB and his cronies. Cheney, Scooter Libby, Wolfowitz, Elliott Abrams, Rumsfeld etc. are sitting outside with many times as much blood on their hands, not to count tax dollars. Ryan actually has some good in him, believe me I am a registered Dem. (progressive). He is also now quite old and it makes no sense to keep him in prison at tax payer expense. He has done a good chunk of his time and besides we need that spot for Bushies!
It took a lot of guts to impose a moratorium on the death penalty, so as a citizen I will want to take that into account. Many Dems are afraid to do this despite their beliefs. We have to think hard because the error rate in death penalty convictions is way too high. Texas (under GWB) had the highest per capita rate in the world even compared to Saudi Arabia, China and Singapore (the three big ones) where people are railroaded for even minor offences.

[JeffmChicago]

No, no, NO!!!

I had been a witness to his cronies. I WORKED FOR THEM!!

Please, Dick Durbin don't ask to get this criminal out of prison. Let him do his time because he did the crime.

Ugh!!

[spyturtle]

No pardon for dishonest politicians. Stop protecting your own and abusing power.

[Cheryl44]

I agree with Senator Durbin on most things, but not this. Governor Ryan should stand as an example of what happens to corrupt politicians. He broke the law, people died because of this actions. He needs to remain in jail for his full sentence.

[BSERIUS]

Durbin is asking for a commutation not a pardon... Durbin is reprehensible , just all the good ole boys ....."Lyin Ryans's driver's license for bribes scandal resulted in the deaths of the 5 Willis children..­.

[RoloTomassi]

Given that, what would be your penalty for George Bush? Oh wait, I forgot about your inherent hypocrisy.­...

[RoloTomassi]

In considering a pardon, I would think that for no other reason, Ryan is far more deserving than many; he at least had the nerve to act on the issue of capital punishment, and it was a bold act that most political cowards would never attempt:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row/index.html

Corrupt GOP politician or not, the man has shown that he gives a damn about HUMANITY.

[naschkatze]

I agree with what you say about what Ryan has done on the issue of capital punishment, and he opened discussion across the nation by his action. Plus, he has served part of his time unlike, for example, Scooter Libby.

[Tinsdale]

Since Libby got off through a wink and a nod after betraying his office, so should Ryan?

Of course, there is that small inconvenient matter of the six dead chidren, the unintended consequence of Ryan's corruption that he brushed-off. They were just not that important to concern George, Really, who cares about that or about those other tiny mistakes like the ghost payrollers, lying to the FBI, etc.etc,. etc.

[mrwoodywest]

Democrat Turban Durbin wants a much hated Republican President to pardon a crooked Republican Governor. No matter what they say in public politicians sure watch out for each other. I hope Bush doesn't pardon Ryan, because the left wing will go nuts saying " See W is pardoning one of his corrupt buddies." I think old Turban is setting a trap, don't fall into W

[Deparis]

I think you give too much credit to your President W. If there is a trap, I am sure your man W wouldn't be smart enough to know it.