[ Posted by Kevin Fanning]

* Senator Durbin said yesterday that he is considering asking President Bush to commute the prison sentence of former Governor George Ryan:

“His family name has been damaged,” Durbin said. “He has, at an advanced moment of his life, been removed from his family. He has lost the economic security which most people count on at his age. And he is separate from his wife at a time when she is in frail health. To say that he has paid a price for his wrongdoing, he certainly has. And the question is whether continued imprisonment is appropriate at this point.”

Durbin said he was considering making a request for Ryan’s sentence to be commuted, which would end his incarceration but still leave the former governor with a prison record. Under a pardon, the conviction is wiped off the record.

* Michael Sneed weighs in on the possibilty in an interview with Lura Lynn, Gov. Ryan’s wife…

“I told him [Durbin] how hard it was to have George away,” said Ryan’s wife, Lura Lynn, who claims she was surprised when Durbin decided to sit next to her at a Lincoln Bicentennial Commission meeting in Washington, D.C., months ago.

“He [Durbin] is such a kind man . . . and he wanted to know how I was holding up,” Lura Lynn Ryan said.

“So I told him.”

Former Governor Jim Edgar adds his thoughts:

“George Ryan’s paid a pretty big price,” Edgar said at the time. “I don’t think people appreciate, if you’ve been an elected official, you’ve been governor, now you’ve been humiliated. You’ve been found guilty. You’ve been stripped of everything, and financially you’ve been stripped of your pension. I’m not sure a few more years (in prison) is all that much more punishment to him.”

* And many are outraged over the news…

After all these years of disbelieving Ryan would ever be held accountable for his misdeeds, Illinois citizens were gratified to see him sent to prison last November.

It’s not that they want blood. They just want to see that there are real consequences when public officials abuse their office.

Unfortunately comments are closed here at the blog for the holiday. However, we encourage you to contact Senator Durbin with your thoughts on the matter. Click here to do so.