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| Former Gov. George Ryan Apologizes |
Former Gov. Jim Thompson, the lawyer for former Gov. George Ryan, read aloud an apology from Ryan on Friday night in his Chicago law office.
The letter, which Thompson says will be included in the request to President Bush to commute Ryan's prison sentence, included apologies to the people of Illinois as well as the Willis family, whose six children died in a 1994 crash when the family's minivan burst into flames after striking an object that fell from a truck. The driver of the truck had offered a bribe for his license, part of the licenses-for-bribes scandal that happened while Ryan was secretary of state.
"I realize my mistakes had other implications and tangible effects in my constituents and the citizenry," Ryan wrote. "I know that Rev. and Mrs. Willis suffered such effects -- and unimaginable pain and loss -- from mistakes made in my admission, both by me and others on my watch. My heart has [gone] and always will go out to the Willis family."
Ryan also hoped his words "might help in the healing process of restoring the people’s faith in the government and others that want to serve."
Ryan is serving a 6 1/2-year prison sentence for political corruption. He has been in for 13 months. Thompson says he believes after a year in prison to think and reflect, Ryan has come to accept his guilt.
Thompson has asked President Bush to consider commuting Ryan's sentence to time served. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) also has asked Bush to commute Ryan's sentence.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 12 12 08 by Newsroom |
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