Former Illinois Governor George Ryan died last week.

His complicated legacy includes putting a moratorium on the death penalty in Illinois when he was governor after voting in favor of it early in his legislative career.

Ryan also served more than 5 years in federal prison on a corruption conviction relating to when he was Illinois.

Secretary of state in Twenty-twenty, Ryan appeared on Chicago tonight to discuss his book on the Death penalty here.

He talks about why he commuted the sentences of everyone on Illinois's death row.

My main concern was.

>> The execution of an innocent person.

And there was there was a lot of people that were very close that work in a and almost got too.

I didn't want to leave saying that and the paper the next day and some had been executed, that he was innocent, found innocent.

But it was too late for so as I said, the only thing that I could really do come 167, people lights.

So nobody got out prison.

Everybody was committed life in prison without And I thought sure still think that I did the right thing.

And I want I do it again.

If I Governor how do you want to be remembered ultimately you were nominated for the Nobel Prize.

>> For your moratorium and the commutation of sentences.

Is this your legacy?

>> That you look at Illinois, I mean, they did adopt the criminal justice reforms after you're gone and then the death penalty is abolished in 2011.

Do you feel vindicated by all that?

>> Well, I don't know about that.

leave that up to story and with my legs, but I know that the >> it.

>> Commute Asians thing that I had to really think about time and the but I you know, you met in person about my book.

took a long time to write think about it.

And I only hope another still.

28 states that have the death penalty gave us a good night and And I think there are a couple of fellows executed today or yesterday in the federal prison over We've got to do away with the death penalty in 2. that is not an intern