Blagojevich Joins Chorus Calling For Ryan Clemency
Ryan
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has added his voice to the list of Illinois pols calling on outgoing President George W. Bush to commute the corruption prison sentence of Blagojevich’s predecessor, former Illinois Gov. George Ryan.
Blagojevich, a Democrat, made the comments earlier today at an event in Chicago, according to the Associated Press and other media outlets that attended the event.
“I think people make mistakes,” Blagojevich, a Democrat, was quoted as saying at the event by the Chicagoist, a local blog. “George Ryan has paid a significant price for those mistakes. And if President Bush makes that decision, I think it would be a fine decision. He’s a man well into his 70s. Mrs. Ryan is in her 70s and in frail health.”
Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, said he was contemplating asking Bush to commute the sentence of Ryan, a Republican who has serve one year of a 6 1/2-year federal sentence for selling influence while he was governor from 1999 through 2003.
The latest development offers a couple bits of irony. While Ryan is reviled in Illinois as a corrupt politician, he is known to most of the world as an anti-death-penalty crusader who granted - yes - clemency to scores of Illinois death row inmates on his way out of office, commuting their death sentences to life in prison.
Also, there’s the possibility that Blagojevich himself might be seeking clemency at some future point. The recent corruption conviction of his friend and political fundraiser, Antoin `Tony’ Rezko, and the indictment of Springfield kingmaker Bill Cellini, has stoked speculation that federal prosecutors in Chicago are actively probing questions about Blagojevich’s fundraising methods.
Unbelievable!! I agree with JGB that Gov. Rod should take his place. Durbin should be ousted from office for considering such nonsense. We know that this is Rod’s last term. It’s obvious that Durbin doesn’t belong in politics either. Can Illinois politicians be any more corrupt? I know of two politicians that I will never vote for. Hopefully they’ll both be in jail before the next elections.
Blagojevich is just worried he will be in the same boat some day as Ryan,,,he wants someone to come to bat for him…
Isn’t Rexko one of Obama’s friends…?
No favors,they all belong to the same gang.Just be careful.
If some Judge lets Ryan out,the Judge should be sentenced to finih Ryan’s time.
Not a dimes worth of difference between Democrats and Republicans, they just talk different during election campaigns, once they get into their offices and commence “business as usual” its just one big club (and you and I aren’t in the big club).
I don’t care if they let him out early, in fact I hope they do. I believe prison should only be for those folks too dangerous to have loose in public. In prison for being a corrupt politician?……HA, thats like putting a dog in prison for p*ssing on a fire hydrant.
The man was caught at being corrupt, and loosing his political job (and any influence cash proven that he received) should have been the only punishment.
We are too quick to imprison people in this country….thats why our prisons are so overcrowded. There are people in America doing hard time for being caught with a small bag of reefer in their posession……this country is crazy that way.
Same as it ever was. You can take Ryan’s situation and apply it to thousands in prison. Age, ill spouse, some good karma built up. What’s usually missing are the political connections one needs to advance a request for a presidential pardon/clemency. Even with prison or sentencing activist groups behind it, one still needs the grease politicians provide.
Durbin and Blagojevich are not known as advocates of prison/sentencing reform, and like most politicians, tend to rubber stamp criminal justice proposals. So it’s relevant to question their motivation in support of Ryan’s clemency, versus their lack of support of others so situated.
I guess Rod thinks if he begs for clemency for Ryan, that he won’t seem hypocritical when he is begging for clemency from Obama in a couple years.
Regardless, they should let Ryan rot in jail…
Scott Simon:
So, let me get this straight: Ryan’s crimes allowed a family to have the lives of their six children taken from them. Ms. Ryan may not have Mr. Ryan by her side in her final years, but those parents will never get to experience the joy of watching their children ever ride a bike again, throw a football again, go to the prom, get married, or live out their lives. Those children will never have to live their final years away from the love of their life because their life was taken from them. And Ryan’s crimes enabled that to happen.
Additionally, Ryan has never said he was guilty or said he was sorry. He continues to maintain his innocence. Fine. If his family name is so important to him, he can continue to make the case from behind bars. No person should ever be pardoned or have their sentence commuted unless they either admit guilt and ask for forgiveness from society, or prove to society why they are innocent. Ryan, failing to do either, should remain until he meets one of those two criteria, at the very least.
Since this the season for Prsidential pardons, I have been wondering if the President will pardon that masher and rapist William Jefferson Clinton?.