Walker: Blagojevich deserves 14-year sentence

SPRINGFIELD— Former Illinois Gov. Dan Walker says former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich deserves a 14-year prison sentence and has “paid the wages of sin.”

Walker tells The State Journal-Register that Blagojevich “repeatedly demonstrated arrogant contempt of government” and “brought nationwide disgrace” to Illinois. A federal judge Wednesday sentenced Blagojevich on corruption convictions. Walker says Blagojevich turned Illinois’ image “from the Land of Lincoln to the land of sleaze.”

The 89-year-old Walker was Illinois governor from 1973 to 1977. A decade after leaving office he pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges related to his business activities. Walker spent more than a year and a half in federal prison.

Walker calls federal prison “a cold, cold, mean place.”