Ryan's hope
HELP FROM BUSH? | Ex-Gov. Thompson to seek presidential commutation for former governor
The highest court in the land refused to hear his plea. Now only one person can help George Ryan:
President Bush.
(Sun-Times)
Pardon: Erases a conviction, such as a felony.
Commutation: Conviction stands, but erases prison term, or trades a longer sentence with a shorter one. (Gov. George Ryan commuted sentences for all Death Row inmates, but most of them still served life sentence.)
Presidents receive hundreds of requests for pardons and commutations each year. Most are granted just before the president leaves office.
President George H.W. Bush granted 74 pardons out of 731 requests and commuted three sentences out of 735 requests.
President Bill Clinton granted 396 pardons out of 2,001 requests and granted 61 commutations out of more than 5,400 requests.
After the U.S. Supreme Court turned down the disgraced former governor's request for an appeal, Ryan's lawyer -- former Gov. Jim Thompson -- said he would ask Bush to commute Ryan's 6½-year prison sentence.
"The man has gone from being the governor of the state of Illinois to being a prisoner in the federal penitentiary," Thompson said. "His career is gone. His reputation is gone. His pension for the moment is gone. . . . I think everybody's interests have been served."
Even with time off for good behavior, Ryan, 74, wouldn't get out of prison until he's nearly 80, Thompson said. "I think it would be appropriate for the president of the United States to commute to time served."
If Ryan's sentence were commuted, his conviction would stand, but he would be freed.
Thompson's comments came after the top court declined without comment to take up Ryan's appeal. Ryan was convicted in 2006 of steering state contracts and leases to friends, and, in return, taking cash, gifts and trips. He was also convicted of lying to FBI agents and filing false tax returns.
"It appears that the long legal saga is finally over," said Patrick Collins, the former prosecutor on Ryan's case. "I've never taken any pleasure that George Ryan has to serve an extended prison sentence." But wiping out Ryan's sentence, he said, "would send a terrible message to the public and to the victims of corruption."
Seeking a commuted sentence, rather than a pardon, could improve Ryan's chances, Thompson said. "Asking for a commutation acknowledges the conviction," he said.
Ryan's racketeering conviction included efforts as secretary of state to quash a probe into a highway tragedy that killed six children of the Willis family in 1994. On Tuesday, Willis family attorney Joe Power had little empathy for Ryan.
"He's had over 70 years of a good life which the Willis children have been deprived of," Power said. Power said Republicans have led the call for tougher sentencing.
"Should we give out exceptions now for Republican governors?" Power said.
Erik Ablin, Justice Department spokesman, said a pardon attorney will review the petition and forward a recommendation to the White House.
"The constitutional power lies with the president," Ablin said. "It isn't unusual for the process to take two years or more."
David Yellen, dean at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, said Ryan might have a shot.
"It's good timing for Gov. Ryan to be asking for something like this now," Yellen said. "Presidents tend to use those powers more when they're on their way out."
Contributing: Mary Wisniewski
