Walker's political fall reaches trial(Georgia)

Atlanta Journal and Constitution ^ | 5/23/05 | JAMES SALZER

[GPBurdell]

In 2000 and 2001, Walker steered $20 million in state grants to Augusta to revitalize depressed neighborhoods. The Journal-Constitution reported later that Walker and his associates received a substantial portion of that money in the form of office rentals, legal fees and other professional payments.

Prosecutors accuse Walker and his daughter Monique of conspiracy and mail fraud over their billing of advertisers in Walker's Augusta Focus weekly newspaper and in dealings with contributors to the CSRA Classic charity football game. Prosecutors allege that Walker inflated the circulation of his paper to get more advertising revenue and take money from the charity event.

Walker also is accused of using his position to force Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta to hire his temporary worker company, Georgia Personnel Services, resulting in $2.5 million worth of business.

They say he lied to Medical College of Georgia officials about his ownership of Georgia Personnel to get around state conflict-of-interest laws and get business from the school, which is part of the state University System.

Both Grady and the medical college receive millions of dollars each year from the state.

In 2001, Walker helped draw a new congressional district to boost the chances of his son, Champ Walker, who ran for the seat. Critics said Walker overreached, and he and his son both lost on Election Day in 2002. So did Barnes.

Walker won his Senate seat back in 2004, but not before being indicted.

"He is a complete victim of his ego," Rhodes said. "He stood in front of the media and dared the media to come after him."

[GPBurdell]

Hopefully Walker will be convicted and serve the time for doing the crime.

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