Posted on 02/02/2003 1:53:11 PM PST by hoosierskypilot
Edited on 04/13/2004 1:55:47 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
CHICAGO (AP) - Former Gov. George Ryan was quietly issuing hundreds of pardons long before he decided to empty Illinois' death row last month, an Associated Press review of state records found. Including the 167 death sentences he commuted days before he left office, the Republican granted 643 clemency requests during his four-year term - nearly twice as many as his predecessor granted in eight years.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
There was an Article in the Chicago SunTimes recently detailing some of the people who benefitted from Ryan's largesse.
I'm ashamed to say that after perusing the list that some of those listed are (former) coworkers and friends. Not the least disturbing is that a name on the list is Chicago Tribune Political Reporter Rick Pearson who covered Ryan in Springfield and whose wife benefitted.
Ryan's pardon's were not just 'pardons' in the normal sense. He was targeting with his pardons political enemies (especially Republican prosecutors) who failed to stand with him when he was accused in the Licenses for Bribes scandal.
It's worth noting that acquaintances of mine have been talking about allegations that Ryan, a registered pharmicist, may have doled out favors to Medicaid providers and drug companies while Secretary of State and moreso as Governor.
In the scheme, it's alleged, Medicaid formularies (that is, the name-brand drugs which Medicaid would pay reimbursement for) were manipulated and triggered kickbacks to drug reps, party hacks, politicians and medical personnell.
This one is the Big Green Monster that no one wants to talk about, because it would crack open huge mutual backscratching deals that would shake the foundations of Illinois' State and Local (read: Chicago) government to its very core.
Watch for it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.