Convicted former Ill. Gov. George Ryan says he's sorry for crimes he committed as the state's chief executive.
In a statement read Friday by his attorney, former Gov. James Thompson, Ryan says his "performance in office was less than my best and for that I am sorry."
Ryan is seeking commutation from President Bush after serving more than a year of his 6 1/2-year corruption sentence.
Among other things, Ryan was convicted of stifling an investigation into bribes paid for truck drivers' licenses.
In November 1994, a part fell off a truck belonging to a driver with an illegal Illinois license. The part hit the gas tank of a van that exploded, killing a pastor's six children.
Ryan mentioned the Rev. Scott Willis' family publicly for the first time Friday.