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Thompson: Blagojevich's Scandal Hurts Ryan

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Dec 11, 2008 9:32 am US/Central

Thompson: Blagojevich's Scandal Hurts Ryan

CHICAGO (AP) ― Former Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson says current Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest hurts the chances of a presidential pardon for another former governor, George Ryan.

Thompson has led efforts to obtain a pardon from President Bush for Ryan, a fellow Republican. Thompson says charges that Blagojevich, a Democrat, tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat deals a blow to Ryan's cause.

Ryan was convicted of corruption in 2006 for steering state contracts and leases to political insiders and helping cover up bribes paid in return for truck drivers licenses. He has served more than a year of his 6 1/2-year prison term.

The federal prosecutor who put Ryan in jail, Patrick Collins, says the charges against Blagojevich should help keep Ryan in prison.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Governor Blagojevich Arrested

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