Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan Apologizes For Crimes

From The AP:

Convicted former Ill. Gov. George Ryan says he's sorry for crimes he committed as the state's chief executive.

In a statement read Friday by his attorney, former Gov. James Thompson, Ryan says his "performance in office was less than my best and for that I am sorry."

Ryan is seeking commutation from President Bush after serving more than a year of his 6 1/2-year corruption sentence.

Among other things, Ryan was convicted of stifling an investigation into bribes paid for truck drivers' licenses.

In November 1994, a part fell off a truck belonging to a driver with an illegal Illinois license. The part hit the gas tank of a van that exploded, killing a pastor's six children.

Ryan mentioned the Rev. Scott Willis's family publicly for the first time Friday.

Watch Ryan's attorney James Thompson read the apology:

Comments

[Eric8869]

If you truly wanted to apologize it was when you were sentenced. NOT when you're just saying it to get a Presidential pardon. Not only is this apology insincere - it's insulting.

[AnotherIADem]

Who's sorry now? George Ryan....AFTER spending some months in prison. True, this is why we call prisons "penitentiaries". However, Ryan's appology to the Willis family comes many years too late. Even an appology at sentencing, before serving time would have had more meaning than the current one. I'm glad he finally said "I'm sorry", I'm just don't think this sudden regret should move anyone (eg, President Bush) to reduce his time in jail.

[redraspberry]

I'm sure Big Jim Thompson will provide free legal council for Blago too like he did for Lyin' Ryan.

[mick7191]

Let him rot. There is something about a republican in prison that warms the heart this time of year.

[BSERIUS]

He definitely needs to stay....Soon a 4rth Illinois gov will go to jail, third DEMOCRAT... And guess what... If he is impeached, that is two biggie Dems and no GOP guys.. No charges ,crimes or indictments... In fact , Obamavich has been closer to court than Bush.....Ahh yes , Season's greetings from the Blagos"MERRY F#$%NG Christmas

[rangem]

i did not hear anything close to an apology i heard he was sorry for the mistake s he made,well excuse me crime s are planned and though they are mistake s they are crime s do your time ryan no early release we dont want you in kankakee anytime soon

[wembakoy]

This is a clip of 7 minutes and can not have all information. If you need more information then you need to visit the link below.

http://okonda.com/please_save_my_people.html

I did my part and you need to do yours if you really care about human lives.

Thanks

[oldleftcoastdude]

What is it about Illinois politics and politician­s?......Is there something in the water from Lake Michigan or something??

[ChiGuy]

Enough. Lay off Illinois.
Ours were just the ones that got caught, and you know it.

[littlepuffycloud]

You're right..and the vast majority of Americans know that. But some people can't resist a cheap and unfunny one liner.

[Eric8869]

No Kidding - Chicago is corrupt but the residents get millennium park etc.

What does Philly get? What does New Orleans get? there are so many corrupt places at least Chicago is the City that Works!

[Solja]

If he has ANY chance of getting out, GW Bush is definitely that chance. In fact, knowing the Bush Administration, the public apology is probably a prerequisite for getting out, amongst other unwritten things, just to get the public ready for it ahead of time.

If you don't know by now, Bush does what he wants, and gets away with it.

[Mahi Joe]

If Ryan thinks an apology is all it takes to obtain a "Get Out of Jail" pass then to be fair then, all people who have committed the same crime should be able to simply apologize and get free. Not going to happen. Sorry, George, you did the crime and in doing so lives were lost and you should be held accountable. An insincere apology doesn't hold water. Enjoy your remaining days with your peer group.

[johnnygoodwud]

way to late for an apology now geo. the only reason is you're trying to get out of jail. you did the crime, so pay the time.

[berryessence]

he paid the time 6.5 years

[PDXTransplant]

Uh no, it says:

Ryan is seeking commutation from President Bush after serving more than a year of his 6 1/2-year corruption sentence. He has only done over a YEAR not his full sentence.

[Danigirl65]

It amazes me that it takes the possibility of commutation for former Governor Ryan to finally apologize for doing bad things.

After one year of serving time, he is apologizing - Too Little, Too Late for me.

[TheAlchemist]

I think he saw the Blago news and realized he had to do SOMEthing to broaden his chances of having his sentence commuted.

Good Luck with that, George.

Serve your time.

[VOTER]

FELON GEORGE RYAN - MUST DO THE TIME FOR HIS CRIMES.

[moda31]

now that he's no longer the most despicable illinois governor in recent memory and is trying to get a pardon he's apologizing, with a rather half a s s apology too.

[Einstein44]

Now this should make it easier for Blago to admit his wrongdoings.

[newpotusplease]

and yet he also had the courage to stop executing people cause he wasn't sure they were guilty

sometimes it is not all black and white

sometimes things are grey

[Archivist1000]

Actually ... they are usually many shades of grey ....... one of the problems in the USA is that people are too much ONE SIDE or THE OTHER ......

[naschkatze]

You have it in a nutshell. We live in a gray area, uncertain world, but the black and white people feel safer thinking it is a black and white world when it isn't.

[leo21]

I can't believe that people still think that that was a sincere act! At this juncture in time, and since his wife claimed his conscious was clear a few weeks ago, that statement doesn't cut it for me. It sounds like he's checking something of the pardon/clemency consideration checklist, just like the death penalty was a ploy to try and stay out of jail.

[lizziekw]

I strongly supported him stopping those executions and I admire it to this day. I thought it was a genuine act of conscience, regardless of what others may think. It doesn't absolve him of responsibility in other matters but it throws something on the other side of the scales.