* As if we don’t already have enough distractions in Illinois politics, Big Jim wants another…

Former Illinois Governor George Ryan will ask President Barack Obama to commute his 6-and-a-half-year sentence for political corrupption. That’s according to former Governor Jim Thompson, one of Ryan’s lawyers.

* More…

THOMPSON: President Obama knows Governor Ryan, worked with him in Springfield, and I think can feel more personally the loss that the governor has suffered.

In the past, Mr. Obama’s office declined to comment on Ryan’s request.

Thompson says the new application will hopefully include more letters of support for the Ryan’s release. But Thompson says it’ll make the same basic arguments, including that Ryan’s continued imprisonment doesn’t appear to have deterred other politicians from corrupt activities.

WBEZ has posted the raw audio of its interview with Thompson on this page.

* Related…

* Sun-Times: System worked in Ryan case

* George Ryan nominated again for Nobel Peace Prize