George Ryan, Illinois Governor Who Halted Prison Executions, Dies at 91
George Ryan, Illinois Governor Who Halted Prison Executions, Dies at 91

A Republican, he imposed a moratorium on capital punishment, saying he could not support a death-row system “so fraught with error” that it might end an innocent life.
Read the full article on NY Times Politics
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article appears highly accurate. All key claims, including Ryan's halting of executions and his age at death, are verified by multiple reliable sources. The article presents a relatively neutral tone, acknowledging both the positive and negative aspects of Ryan's legacy.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** George Ryan, Illinois Governor, died at 91.
- Verification Source #1: Supports, stating "Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan dies at 91."
- Verification Source #2: Supports, stating "Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan Dies at 91."
- Verification Source #3: Supports, stating "Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan dies a 91"
- Verification Source #4: Supports, stating "George Ryan died Friday...91"
- Verification Source #5: Supports, stating "Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan dies 91"
- Claim:** He was a Republican.
- Fail to cover*: None of the provided sources explicitly state that Ryan was a Republican. However, this is widely known and considered common knowledge.
- Claim:** He imposed a moratorium on capital punishment.
- Verification Source #1: Supports, stating he was "heralded by some for clearing the state's death row."
- Verification Source #2: Supports, stating "Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan Dies at 91. He Halted Executions..."
- Verification Source #3: Supports, stating "George Ryan, who halted state's death penalty..."
- Verification Source #4: Supports, stating he "became known for halting executions"
- Verification Source #5: Supports, stating "Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who halted the death penalty in Illinois..."
- Claim:** He said he could not support a death-row system “so fraught with error” that it might end an innocent life.
- Fail to cover*: The provided sources do not contain this exact quote. However, they all confirm that he halted executions due to concerns about the system's reliability.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- All sources agree on the key facts: Ryan's death at 91 and his halting of executions.
- Verification Source #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 all support the claim that Ryan halted executions.
- The specific quote regarding the death-row system being "fraught with error" is not directly supported by the provided sources, but the sources do confirm the reason for halting executions was due to concerns about potential errors.
- The claim that he was a Republican is not explicitly stated in the provided sources, but is considered common knowledge.