Talk about colorful! And how does he make his hair do that?

newsnet5.com

Traficant Tells Government "Bring It On" His Trial Is Set To Begin Today

POSTED: 7:00 a.m. EST February 5, 2002 UPDATED: 7:05 a.m. EST February 5, 2002

CLEVELAND -- A bribery trial for Congressman James Traficant is set to begin Tuesday morning in Cleveland, according to NewsChannel5.

Although he's not a lawyer, he said that he is prepared to defend himself. In fact, his message for the government was: "Bring it on."

Traficant is accused of accepting gifts and favors from constituents in exchange for lobbying in Washington.

On Monday, Traficant lost an appeal before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati to delay the trial.

If convicted, Traficant could be sentenced to more than 60 years in prison and receive $2 million in fines.

Traficant defended himself in a case against the government in 1983 when he was Mahoning County sheriff.

At that time, he was accused of accepting $163,000 from mobsters and filing a false income tax return.

The Justice Department said it had FBI tapes of conversations that Traficant had with organized crime figures and his signed affidavit that he took mob money.

Traficant, however, convinced the jury he had been acting undercover while trying to destroy mob influence in Mahoning County. The jury deliberated four days and acquitted him.

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-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002

Answers

The Democrats in Congress consider Traficant such a pariah that he is without any committee assignments. That is truly unusual.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002

Gee, even Gary Condit isn't ostracized to that degree.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002

Traficant=Buford Pusser...walk softly and carry a BIG STICK!!!

only he is not always walking "softly! but I am rooting for him.

(But I wish he could do more with his hair.

(Little factoid...he gathered up some forces to help with the serch for my dad, and a few other things.) My mom really liked him!

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002