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Tuesday, January 6, 2009 8:52 PM CST
OUR VIEW: Gov. Ryan should serve his prison term
By the JG/T-C Editorial Board
editorial@jg-tc.com
Several weeks ago, we had planned an editorial opposing a possible pardon for former Illinois Gov. George Ryan.
But the day before that editorial was to be published, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced that current Gov. Rod Blagojevich had been arrested on federal corruption charges alleging that he tried to sell a U.S. Senate appointment to the highest campaign contribution donor.
Thoughts about a possible pardon for Ryan were put on hold so we could call for impeachment of Blagojevich. But Ryan’s case should not be forgotten.
Sen. Richard Durbin and several others have suggested that President George W. Bush should pardon Ryan or commute Ryan’s sentence before Bush leaves office in a couple of weeks.
We oppose any special treatment for Ryan. The former governor was convicted in court. His sentence was fair and justified.
His trial revealed numerous instances of corruption in two statewide offices — secretary of state and governor — to line the pockets of friends and increase his own campaign funds.
Unlike Blagojevich, Ryan apparently is held in high regard by many Illinois political leaders.
Blagojevich has had a stormy relationship with legislators and other statewide officeholders.
The Springfield State Journal-Register says that the politicians appreciate that Ryan “always kept his word.”
But Ryan did not keep his word to the people of Illinois.
Ryan used his offices to enrich himself and his friends.
The fact that so soon after Ryan was sentenced to prison his successor also was charged with corruption indicates that Bush should not be quick to release Ryan from prison.
Ryan and Blagojevich, who has not been convicted of any crime, have brought shame to Illinois.
The “pay to play” philosophy that Ryan was convicted of practicing is the reputation of Illinois politics.
Blagojevich’s legal case has reinforced that image of corruption at the Capitol.
Ryan was sentenced to 6½ years in prison. He has served just more than one year in federal prison at Terre Haute, Ind.
True, he has lost his state pension. He has been shamed. At age 74, he cannot be with his wife, his children and grandchildren.
It’s unfortunate that this is Ryan’s fate but his own practices are responsible for his prison sentence.
We believe Durbin is wrong to ask for Ryan’s release from prison, and it would be wrong for President Bush to release him.
Punishment should fit the crime and also act as a deterrent. And keeping Ryan in prison is the best way to show public officials what will happen if they violate the law while in office.
— JG/T-C Editorial Board
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Mike P wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:34 AM:
Two weeks to go, its not something I would bet on still.
GW typically has his own view of things, he felt Libby needed out early, and that was a close to home cloud of corruption, that compromised national security. Logic seems lost in his thought process.
Rod keeping this a hot topic in the news, with his appointment of Burris, might eek out the next two weeks, but pretty much nothing is out of the question, when the last sheet of pardons gets his last presidential signature. Ryan making the list, if he does, is not likely to be the most shocking revalation in the executive orders basket.
Government and corporate corruption need severe penalties. Ryan facing as little time as he did, for what he was convicted of, is not justice. Its a slight bump in the road of politics and greed. Until some of thes acts are treated as treasonous, with severe penalties connected to them, the risk vs reward equity is in corruptions favor. It takes millions of dollars, and thousands of man hours, to to investigate and prosecute corruption, and they get slaps on the wrist fines and minimal time, if even that, as a result. "