SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, today officially requested that President Bush grant clemency to former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who is serving a federal prison sentence for corruption.

“Though no one can or should excuse his official misconduct, I am writing to ask that you consider commuting his sentence to time served,” Durbin wrote in a letter to Bush, which his office also released to the media. “ . . . (H)e has already paid a significant price and will continue to do so as long as he lives.”

Durbin goes on to note that Ryan already has lost his government pension and that clemency won’t change that. He also notes the “frail health” of Ryan’s wife.

Ryan, 74, a Republican, was convicted of using his office to enrich himself and associates when he was Illinois secretary of state and governor. He has served about a year of his 6-1/2 year-year prison term.

Ryan’s successor, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, indicated last week that he too believes Ryan should be granted clemency because of his age and his wife’s health.

Blagojevich has been shadowed by a corruption investigation against associates of his by the same Chicago-based U.S. Attorney’s office that convicted Ryan.