Even “Smart” People Get Caught

Back in 1994, a horrific accident in Milwaukee set into motion a series of events that has led to the conviction of a very influential politico in Illinois – former Governor George Ryan. It took the violent deaths of 6 children in that accident, and the subsequent death of others in accidents around the US, to begin the investigation that led to determining the fact that then-Secretary of State Ryan’s office sold CDLs for cash donations to Ryan’s political campaign and other perks. The fact that it took 9 more years for Ryan to leave office in the shadow of these offenses, and another 3 years for prosecutors to get convictions, shows that Ryan does have a certain amount of intelligence. However, when you keep at this stuff long enough, you’ll get busted.

The Rev. Scott and Janet Willis lost those 6 children that day in a fiery accident. A truck being driven by a man who had purchased his license from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office rear-ended the family van with such force it burst into flame on contact. Both Rev. and Janet Willis were severely burned just trying to release themselves from the front seat restraints – the children in the rear seats never had a chance.

In the months following the accident, the Willis family exhibited what can only be described as deep, deep faith when it issued a statement forgiving that driver that day. They held no ill will to that man, even in the face of what must have been immense emotional pain that very few of us will ever understand, and turned to God for understanding, healing, and forgiveness.

That accident led to the investigation which brought the licenses-for-bribes scandal, and associated influence peddling, to light. Ryan was smart enough that, for 9 years, they couldn’t tie him to the scams conclusively enough to bring charges. The money that flowed in was put into the campaign coffers used to propel him to the Governorship, even in the face of the scandal. That money also paid for regular vacations to Jamaica, Mexico, and California, among other exotic locales.

Those six children, who never had a chance at life, lay in their graves while Ryan was living the high life.

As the noose began to tighten, I imagine Ryan knew he would be charged and convicted. While he was smart enough to insulate himself pretty well, there were ties to be found. He knew that. He also knew that, in light of those ties and the almost certain convictions, he had to do something to save his reputation.

While fighting the investigation in courts of law, he also decided to try to find a way to have the case tried in the court of public opinion. But how? How could he make the case that, when he was convicted of his illegal deeds, it was because of some factor outside his own culpability and greed.

Then it hit him – 13 death row inmates had been wrongly convicted based on faulty investigations and/or evidence. He trumpeted that the criminal justice system was “haunted by the demon of error”. He commuted those 13 sentences, and declared a moratorium on executions in the state. Just before he was forced from office, he also commuted the sentences of all inmates on death row at that time.

As a side benefit, he basked in the limelight of now being a death penalty opponent. His actions commuting those sentences were lauded and he spoke widely on the issue. It even went so far as to lead to a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

But I suspect his real motivations were to try to sway the court of public opinion in the event of the expected convictions. He would, of course, appeal. The jury problems give him the opening he needs from a legal perspective. Now he can continue to hammer on the public in the hopes of influencing any future trials, should one occur.

His comments after the verdict were telling; “I believe this decision today is not in accordance with the kind of public service that I provided to the people of Illinois for over 40 years, and needless to say, I am disappointed in the outcome.”

No condemnation of the charges. No taking responsibility for his actions. The criminal justice system wrongly convicts people all the time! Just look at what happened, and what I found and rectified during my administration!

In the end, he just seems to be saying, “Look what I did for the State. It’s all good, right? So I did a few things that got me convicted. The ends justify the means. I mean – 40 FREAKING YEARS of service to the people of Illinois.”

If only those 6 children had had the chance to live at least 40 years……..