Capital PunishmentFormer Illinois Gov. George Ryan faces corruption charges.

Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, best known for declaring a death penalty moratorium in his last days in office, was indicted today on allegations of corruption that date back to his tenure as Illinois' secretary of state. In January, Chris Suellentrop wrote that in his political career, Ryan both did what he thought was right and brazenly amassed authority, damn the consequences. "Free-thinker though he may be, his career was nevertheless felled by his constant desire to push the limits of power. As a politician, he has as much in common with Richard Nixon as he does with Helen Prejean."

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