Gov: Bush should commute Ryan's sentence

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday President George W. Bush should let former Illinois Gov. George Ryan out of federal prison.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported the Democratic governor made the comment at a Thanksgiving visit to the Chicago Christian Industrial League.

"I always err on the side of compassion," Blagojevich said. "I think people make mistakes."

The former Republican governor, 74, "has paid a significant price" for his federal racketeering and fraud conviction, Blagojevich said.

Blagojevich was elected governor in 2002. His administration is the target of a federal corruption investigation.