KASS PASSES ON RYAN'S FATAL FLAW
In supporting former Dupage County States Attorney and Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan's gubernatorial bid, columnist John Kass glosses over the fatal flaw of Ryan's tireless efforts to put two innocent men to death for the 1983 Jeannine Nicarico murder.
In his November 29 column, Kass continues the rehabilitation of Ryan's culpability for his leading the rush to death by allowing Ryan to again apologize for the "system" failing before admitting he failed. For Ryan to assert "I acted in good faith...when I was younger" is disingenuous at best, and utterly self serving at worst. Ryan's office chose two innocent men to die for a horrific crime that needed someone to pay the highest price, and presented virtually no evidence to warrant the death sentences they eventually obtained. Ryan conveniently ignores that it took ten years and three costly trials for Cruz to finally be taken off death row and another six years to be pardoned. Ryan further ignores mention that seven DuPage County law enforcement officials; three prosecutors and four deputies, were indicted by a grand jury in December 1996 on 47 charges of conspiracy to convict Cruz despite being aware of exculpatory evidence, and that DuPage County eventually paid 3.5 million dollars to Cruz, Alejandro Hernandez and Steven Buckley for wrongful prosecution.
Kass is obsessive about pointing out every tiny wart and failing of the folks he opposes. He should do the same for those he supports.
In his November 29 column, Kass continues the rehabilitation of Ryan's culpability for his leading the rush to death by allowing Ryan to again apologize for the "system" failing before admitting he failed. For Ryan to assert "I acted in good faith...when I was younger" is disingenuous at best, and utterly self serving at worst. Ryan's office chose two innocent men to die for a horrific crime that needed someone to pay the highest price, and presented virtually no evidence to warrant the death sentences they eventually obtained. Ryan conveniently ignores that it took ten years and three costly trials for Cruz to finally be taken off death row and another six years to be pardoned. Ryan further ignores mention that seven DuPage County law enforcement officials; three prosecutors and four deputies, were indicted by a grand jury in December 1996 on 47 charges of conspiracy to convict Cruz despite being aware of exculpatory evidence, and that DuPage County eventually paid 3.5 million dollars to Cruz, Alejandro Hernandez and Steven Buckley for wrongful prosecution.
Kass is obsessive about pointing out every tiny wart and failing of the folks he opposes. He should do the same for those he supports.
posted by Walt Zlotow at 5:42 PM
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