Politics
Politics

From Georgia power broker to prison; ex-Sen. Charles Walker’s comeback

Former Georgia Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker, who went from the height of political power at the Capitol to prison, is working on his second book. JAMES SALZER/JSALZER.AJC>COM
Former Georgia Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker, who went from the height of political power at the Capitol to prison, is working on his second book. JAMES SALZER/JSALZER.AJC>COM
By James Salzer
April 26, 2017

Nicknamed "The Hammer," Charles Walker was a share-cropper's son turned millionaire Augusta businessman who rose to become the Georgia Senate's only African-American majority leader.

But the feds came after him hard in the mid-2000s, and he was convicted on mail fraud and other charges and sentenced to a decade in prison. His political career seemingly over, he spent much of his time behind bars unsuccessfully fighting his conviction.

And taking notes.

"When I was in captivity, I had a chance to think. What kept me occupied, what kept my sanity, was focusing on Charles Walker," he said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Where I have been, where I have come from and how I was going to fight my way out of this trap."

Three years after his release from federal prison in Estill, S.C., he's written one book about his experiences, "From Peanuts to Power," and is working on a second.

To read more about Walker's journey from power to prison and back, check out our story on myajc.com.

About the Author

James Salzer has covered state government and politics in Georgia since 1990. He previously covered politics and government in Texas and Florida. He specializes in government finance, budgets, taxes, campaign finance, ethics and legislative history

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