White House Stays Quiet On Ryan Request

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Dec 3, 2008 11:15PM

The White House has confirmed they received Sen. Dick Durbin's letter asking President Bush to commute the sentence of convicted former governor George Ryan but if they feel one way or the other about it, they're not letting on. Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said, "Well, I can tell you that we have received the request from Sen. Durbin, but I would not comment on the pardon process--except for to say that anyone who is eligible for a pardon can apply for one, and those requests go through our pardon attorney, which is at the Justice Department...I wouldn't be surprised if there were more before he leaves office, but I couldn't tell you how many and I certainly couldn't tell you who." For his part, President-Elect Obama said any comment from him on the matter, isn't "appropriate" at this point.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci