Closure at the Capitol

With a sweeping 142-count federal indictment against him, we wish Charles Walker had not been elected to the state Senate.

But now that he's there, we think both he and his constituents have a right to know whether he'll be allowed to remain.

Certainly the controversial Walker knew back in November that the earth had moved at the state Capitol. He knew the landscape wasn't what he remembered. He knew he was returning as a freshman state senator from Augusta, and not the powerful Senate majority leader he'd been only a few years ago. And the dyed-in-the-wool Democrat knew the Senate and House were both in Republican hands for the first time since Reconstruction.

His assignment - banishment? - to obscure committees such as Interstate Cooperation is a far cry from being the powerful Senate majority leader. Yet, it can't have come as any surprise to the politically astute.

But again, we think he should be allowed to know whether he can stay, at least in the near term.

Due to his 142-count indictment - for alleged felonies committed in various roles as politician, newspaper owner and fund-raiser - Walker could apparently be suspended from serving by a panel appointed by the governor.

Gov. Sonny Perdue's office has been coy about the topic, not saying either way what the governor might do.

We don't begrudge the governor a little gamesmanship, if that's what's at work. Republicans probably don't mind a dark cloud of uncertainty following Walker around for awhile.

But even a senator under indictment, and the voters who inexplicably sent him to Atlanta, deserve some closure.

Knowing the courts as we do, it's highly possible the federal case against Walker could fog the Statehouse grounds for some time - perhaps as long as his two-year term. Let us pray it does not.

But as to the other matter, of whether the governor will seek his ouster, it's quite easily dispatched.