Ex-Ill. governor allowed to visit dying wife

[Faygo Kid]

Source: MSNBC (AP)

CHICAGO — Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan was quietly let out of prison this week and spent two hours visiting his gravely ill wife, federal prosecutors revealed in a court filing Friday.

The federal filing, in which prosecutors opposed a motion to let Ryan out on bail, said the Bureau of Prisons granted the former governor an escorted trip Wednesday evening to the Kankakee, Ill., hospital where his wife Lura Lynn Ryan is being treated for cancer.

A motion filed by Ryan's lawyers on Wednesday had asked that he be released on bail, saying his wife of 55 years is suffering from terminal cancer. He has served three years of a 6 1/2-year sentence for racketeering, conspiracy, tax fraud and making false statements to the FBI.

The prosecutors' filing said it did not dispute that Lura Lynn Ryan is gravely ill. But it cited George Ryan's visit on Wednesday as one of reasons that appellate judges should not release him on bond. . .

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40967656/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

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I know he was a crook, and a Republican, but 55 years of marriage should count for something. Tough way to go out.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I agree COMPLETELY.

The man is a criminal, and he is paying for that.

But his wife is dying, and he needs to be able to say goodbye in person.

She doesn't need to suffer, nor should she suffer, for his sins.

It was a very good call.

Recommended.

[Bozita]

6. +1

[truebrit71]

2. I have to agree. He commuted the death sentences of everyone on Illinois death row before he left.

I believe he is due a small measure of compassion to see his dying wife. He's a crook not an animal.

[Justitia]

4. me too -eom

[No Elephants]

3. Good.

[roguevalley]

5. no one ever did wrong showing compassion.

[emilyg]

14. I was always taught to err on

the side of kindness.

[jwirr]

7. For her sake I am glad he could do that. Mercy is a good trait to have.

[NuclearDem]

8. Good call...

A little piece of mercy from the justice system is always good to hear.

[Faygo Kid]

12. It's rare enough, as other posters note here.

"Mercy" is reserved for few. Justice is a good thing. Keeping a husband from his dying wife of 55 years when he has already served half his sentence seems to me to be the right thing to do. We all end up as mulch anyway.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. Good for him, but it's a shame such compassion isn't extended to the lesser known,

nonviolent offenders in prison.

[mimitabby]

11. yes, that's exactly what i was saying.

[mimitabby]

10. hohum

other (aka "common") criminals do not get these kinds of perks. When my brother's son died, he was not let out. when his mother died, he was not let out.

[Warpy]

13. I'm certainly not rigid enough to have any problem with this

I just wish they'd do it for poor folks who are in prison for non violent offenses.

[donheld]

15. Good