James Traficant: One of a Kind, Railroaded Into Prison by Corrupt Deputy USAG Craig Morford

[laserhaas]

Last edited Wed Oct 1, 2014, 03:29 AM - Edit history (8)

Many a Democrat finds fault with the fact that James Traficant voted with his heart, instead of party lines. Too many a Progressive has slammed a man of great character. Most doing so, because JT was convicted of corruption. However, jumping on JT's politico grave, due to the corruption conviction, actually puts one in the willfully blind and/or dark side.

Because James Traficant didn't do it!
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Like him or not, JT was one heck of a statesman. He was an intellectual, a farm boy and one heck of a witty guy. Here's just one example from another DU'r (HeywoodJ - who gave credit to ETA), in a previous thread from years ago (here).
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In a memorable Capitol Hill moment, he called a friend, Sandra Ferrante, as a witness during a committee hearing on Standards and Official Conduct. At the time Congress was considering expelling him. The conversation went like this:

Traficant: Were you and I sex partners?

Ferrante: No.

Traficant: Why not?

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Traficant's conviction was a result of a foolish belief in the purity of the system of justice.

Department of Justice tool - Craig Morford - was the one who made sure Traficant (pic above by redding.com) was convicted. How he did so, is one for the books of tyranny, cronyism & corruption. JT had gone one the public record stating that U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno was China's best friend, implying she betrayed her country. As former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Convertino can tell you, it doesn't bode well for being on the public record against the USAG. Though Convertino was also being prosecuted/persecuted by Craig Morford's scheming; unlike Tranficant, Convertino was intelligent enough to know not to represent himself.

James Traficant went to jail; simply because he represented himself "pro se".
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JT's was convicted by Corrupt Deputy USAG, for corruption, due to Carafo's car rental $5000

Craig Morford, as detailed by Wikipedia (here), was the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, who was credited with convicting 70 public officials. As Wikipedia notes, JT was reportedly convicted for

In 2002, Morford was lead prosecutor in the second criminal case against Traficant, then in his ninth term as a Democratic Congress member from Youngstown, Ohio. Traficant was convicted on charges of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Corruption by Deputy USAG Craig Morford, was his forte (in more ways than one).

Wikipedia is an open public effort at documentation of historical records. Unfortunately, anyone can edit Wiki; and (as I've come to learn) there are paid troll professional groups out there (some at $250 per hour), who specialize in "cleansing" the record. This causes a slant on the opine in Wiki - corrupting. Such as the fact that Rick Convertino was the Assistant United States Attorney who (akin to Traficant) publicly spoke out against the United States Attorney; but Morford failed to convict Convertino. Wikipedia details the Rick Convertino case; but doesn't mention Convertino's name in stipulating that;

In 2004, Morford led a court-ordered Justice Department review of allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in a major terrorism case that followed the attacks of September 11, 2001. Morford’s report concluded that prosecutors had improperly withheld evidence – e-mails, photographs, witness statements and other material – that cast doubt on the government’s case. In an rare admission of error, the Justice Department asked a judge to dismiss charges against two convicted defendants

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That's the B.S. that Wikipedia has posted by the hands of others; but is far from the truth of the matter.

Mo Hurley - An American Hero Unsung

A true American patriot is one Maurice ("Mo&quot Hurley who had the web name Eliot Ness. Mo had taken up our eToys case against Goldman Sachs, Bain Capital and Paul Traub (Mo's exit from the scene was prior to the Romney tie in - with evidence corroborating). Mr. Hurley lived next store to Rick Detore and was shaken to his very core when the FBI raided (at the behest of Craig Morford), Detore's residence (with full helicopter attack and FBI personnel in flack jackets).

Mo Hurley recruited me for both Traficant's trial and that of Rick Convertino. In both instances, I kept in touch with the wives who were being subjected to a surreal world that would even compel them to doubt their husbands (the main stream media likes to go for the jugular of convicting until proven innocent).

It was almost solely due to Mo Hurley (who since then was destroyed, lost his multi-million dollar home and tried to commit suicide by anti-freeze) - that Craig Morford didn't become the United States Attorney General, instead of Federal Justice Mukasey. Mo faxed the facts to every Congressmen, Senator, U.S. Attorney and/or any other public official he could.
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Craig Morford Deports a Traficant Exonerating Witness

The sole evidence against JT, is the fact that he bought a car from Ohio shopping center magnate Carafo. When the car broke down and Traficant learned that it was a hacked automobile (a classic car body was put on the wrong junk yard frame), JT insisted that Carafo provide him a convertible rent-a-car where JT was stuck. Traficant knew he was paying for the rental, he just wanted a convertible (the car he had bought from Carafo was a convertible).

Rick Detore was an Aero-Space engineer and head executive of Carafo's new company quaintly named USAG. James Traficant had sent over, by fax, a copy of his license, authorization and a copy of his credit card. Nmandi Okolo was the owner of Millennium Luxury Car Rental that a black Corvette originated from. Nokolo, as sound business practice, insisted on having a credit card imprint. Detore provided his to imprint; but with strict instruction that Traficant was paying for the rent-a-car upon its return. As is detailed by Okolo's testimony (found a Truthilizer website - here), Nmandi Okolo makes the following testimony that;

That Congressman Traficant (JT) rented a corvette from Millennium for a
month in late 1999 to use while his regular car was being repaired - again.
The corvette was delivered to Rick Detore at USAG offices in Manassas, VA
from Millennium's satellite location at the Double Tree Hotel in Falls
Church, VA and secured on his (Detore's) credit as a favour to Mr Traficant.
I handled the transaction and understood from Mr Detore that the listed
additional driver would use the car and pay upon return of the car

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I{Nmandi Okolo} was pressured to lie about Rick Detore and JT.

Craig Morford's staff commanded Okolo to lie against James Traficant and Rick Detore. When Okolo refused to do so, the Department of Justice had Okolo deported. As is detailed by Okolo's testimony (here), Okolo refused to be pressured into doing an act of Perjury. As is detailed by Okolo's online testimony that;

That If I had lied, like so many others in Congressman Traficant’s case
I would still be in the United States, with no legal or criminal or IRS
problems.

As anyone can plainly see by the Congressional testimony of Rick Detore; JT did nothing wrong. However, Rick Detore wasn't allowed to proffer this particular testimony at James Traficant's trial.

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Traficant Represented Himself Straight into Prison
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Prior to his conviction by the suborned Perjury of Craig Morford and his corrupt staff, James Traficant had previously defeated an effort to prosecute him under another bogus charge of corruption. Due to this (and hubris), JT decided to represent himself once again.

During JT's trial, he was repeatedly told by the judge presiding that "You know when you represent yourself, you are waiving your right to appeal"; which Traficant kept responding YES (over and over again). JT believed his innocence would be clear for the jury to see. This is the fools folly of those who represent themselves. And - in this particular case - it simply ain't true (due to fraud on the court by the officers of the court).



As a result of the corruption of deported witness Okolo, the suborned Perjury of various other witness (who simply had no idea what was really going on) and the hubris of JT leading him to believe that a fair system of justice wouldn't convict him; the result was a (bogus) conviction of James Traficant for taking a $5000 rent-a-car bribe from Carafo.

At the time, J.J. Carafo (pic above from pecchiacomm.com) was under indictment himself and would (years later) plead guilty to Bribery and Campaign Finance fraud (for the sake of his daughter's failed Congressional campaign). (See the story at pecchiacomm.com's story - http://www.pecchiacomm.com/2010/03/ex-tv-reporter-clarifies-facts-as-cafaro-company-spokesman/ )
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James Traficant Didn't Do It - and Vindication Shall Come!

As some of his close friends now know, I was scheduled to meet with James Traficant upon my trek back east. I'm now well versed in the issues of "Fraud on the Court" by "Officers of the Court" and the fact that the United States Supreme Court has stipulated a Precedent that there's NO statute of limitations for such.

It is my plan, when I succeed in my case of suing Goldman Sachs (looking better every day, now that the FED tapes are being revealed by main stream news), Bain Capital and Mitt Romney; to utilize some of the money stolen from me - to vindicate James Traficant's name! He was placed in jail by federal corruption; as this website "The Right Perspective" details (here).

Traficant's Conviction was a Frame Job

!

Mo Hurley is to be commended, if you should ever meet him In Virgina), for the fact that he dang near, single handed, stopped the corrupt Craig Morford from becoming the United States Attorney General. (Actually made it so bad for Morford, who was part of the scheme of settling the Chris Christie bribery of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft $50 million "Deferred Prosecution Agreement", that Morford couldn't get a job at a law firm {like Alberto Gonzales}). That issue of utilizing $50 million to a former Attorney General of the United States to make sure a prosecution doesn't occur

used to be called what??????


I'm just sayin........
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I leave you with some of James Traficant's more memorable moments, as provided by Youtube.

Enjoy.....

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Let the Manure Chips Fall Where they may: Beam Me Up![br]

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REST IN PEACE JAMES TRAFICANT

======= We've Got Your Back!
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[JI7]

1. he wasn't railroaded, and he was anti gay and claiming there were some lesbain sex tapes

of Reno that he was going to expose.

[laserhaas]

6. Your statement's opening remark is patently false.

JT was railroaded by a corrupt prosecutor (Craig Morford);
and deported witness combined with subordination of Perjury.

[geek tragedy]

2. he was a DINO and a crook, sorry school will be open on his birthday nt

[laserhaas]

5. You can't look at the evidence above and make such a statement.

JT was convicted by corruption.

[former9thward]

3. He was railroaded because he challenged the ruling powers.

[laserhaas]

4. This is true and we were there when it happened.

Sorry that I hit the post button (instead of review);
but I will have the entire story up soon.

[laserhaas]

7. See Ohio Vindy comments on the lying J.J. Carafo (who did Perjury to convict JT)

http://www.vindy.com/users/EliotNess_DC/comments/?page=3

[cali]

8. You actually think these remarks demonstrate statesmanship and wit?

In a memorable Capitol Hill moment, he called a friend, Sandra Ferrante, as a witness during a committee hearing on Standards and Official Conduct. At the time Congress was considering expelling him. The conversation went like this:

Traficant: Were you and I sex partners?

Ferrante: No.

Traficant: Why not?

bzzt. giant fail. I don't know enough to comment on his guilt or innocence but he sure as fuck was no statesman and I never saw in him any sign of great intellect. He was a buffoon with a spectacularly bad hairpiece.

[laserhaas]

9. given the gravity of the situation, his levity

Was much more statesman like

Than the arguments against made by you.

I'm just sayin......

[reddread]

11. some folks seem to prefer hating other folks

rather than understanding context, and encouraging real justice.
divide and conquer comes from below more than above with
the nature of individuals and the ease with which people can be
pilloried as directed by our overlords in subtle and non-subtle ways.
When outsourcing jobs is your platform, and people support this?
big trouble ahead.

[laserhaas]

12. Well said. I don't understand how a person can despise another person so easily

based upon, corruption, hyperbole and conjecture
(merely because the person doesn't think the way another does)

and then still claim to be a Progressive.
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Isn't being a Liberal a statement of the oath to the truth;
or are we merely antagonists of Repub's in different Koch brother clothing?

I'm extremely saddened that I can no longer discuss, with JT, how to vindicate his conviction.

[reddread]

15. yeah, you would think true liberals would respect personal freedom and choices

people have various life experiences and incorporate them into their worldview, narrow as it may be.
to immediately declamate someone on the basis of personal political intolerance is to be something other than
liberal or freedom minded, and deviates insignificantly from radical conservative behavior.
and rarely, if ever, are these issues of concern about the general good.

[laserhaas]

20. TRUE Liberals DO respect the issues of liberties & rights inherent

It is the trolls among U.S. and those who don't care enough to take the time

as the ones who make up the masses

which breeds the problems....

[reddread]

10. thanks for clarifying the stink of it

so many folks cant get past their conditioning and ignorance.

[laserhaas]

13. TY for taking the time to look at the facts.

Truth is immortal and inflexible.

If we but - just look upon it.

[snooper2]

16. you're back!

[cali]

14. I ain't buying and neither will anyone else who does a little research and he was NO democratic hero

While in Congress, Traficant was a supporter of immigration reduction,[14] and a strong opponent of illegal immigration. In the controversy surrounding the defeat of Congressman Bob Dornan (R-CA) by Democrat Loretta Sanchez, Traficant was the only Democratic member of Congress who advocated a new election, due to Dornan's allegations of voting in that race by undocumented immigrants. (The allegations were not proven, and a new election was not held.)

Traficant's major legislative accomplishment in the House was the adoption of some of his proposals to constrain enforcement activities by the Internal Revenue Service against delinquent taxpayers.

After the Republicans took control of the House in 1995, Traficant tended to vote more often with the Republicans than with his own party. On the issue of abortion, Traficant voted in the position of the National Right to Life Committee 95% of the time in the 105th Congress, and 100% of the time in the 106th and 107th Congresses. However, he voted against all four articles of impeachment against Bill Clinton. After he voted for Republican Dennis Hastert for Speaker of the House in 2001, the Democrats stripped him of his seniority and refused to give him any committee assignments. Because the Republicans did not assign him to any committees either, Traficant became the first member of the House of Representatives in over a century—outside the top leadership—without any committee assignment.[15]

<snip>

After his release from prison, he was featured as a guest speaker at a Tea Party protest in Columbiana, Ohio, among other events affiliated with conservatism.[30][31]

Traficant began a grassroots campaign in July 2014, "Project Freedom USA",[32] to, among other things, put people pressure on Congress to get rid of the IRS and "divorce" the Federal Reserve.[33]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Traficant

[laserhaas]

18. You're obfuscating the issues on conjecture. No one said he was a "Liberal" hero.

The gist of the thread is that I was meeting with JT to assist him in overturning his conviction;
because he was railroaded by corruption.

As a man who questioned establishments; in that essence and being jailed for such (corruptively)

James Traficant is a martyr/hero!

[cali]

21. bullshit. So someone forced him to be a tax cheat?

hero/martyr my ass.

[laserhaas]

22. Bias is as bias does.

And the BS is coming from your (less than) 1/2 baked arguments.

[m-lekktor]

25. his death was listed on Southern Poverty Law Center Hatewatch blog

"CBS News: Extremist ex-congressman Jim Traficant dies at age 73 after tractor accident."

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2014/09/30/hatewatch-headlines-93014/

he was popular with the "sovereign citizen", black helicopter, militia, Cliven Bundy crowd. he was a right winger through and through though a DEM. i can't believe any good progressive would consider his bigoted ass worthy of praise.

[laserhaas]

26. You have no right, nor basis, for questioning my loyalty to progressiveness.

I've merely told the tale of how I came to know JT;
and the corruption of the trial that put him in prison.

He was popular with anyone who cared about someone being true to oneself.
(even though - IMO - I do believe stances of JT were misguided).

His being one of a kind is undeniable;
and his being railroaded is clear to see.

[LostOne4Ever]

41. There are many FAR right conservative bigots who are true to themselves

If that is the litmus test one gives for what makes one a hero or not, then you need to get some new litmus paper because that one sucks.

[snooper2]

17. So how is your case going? You get to depose Romney yet?

[laserhaas]

19. Not yet; but if there's any justice in the world (and Goldman Sachs keeps getting exposed)

Then chances increases that I will!

[laserhaas]

23. Here's a copy of POTUS candidate Paul's remarks to Congress. Telltale!

Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of the motion by the gentleman from Ohio.

It is not easy to do this, obviously, and it is difficult for all of us to be here because it seems like, on the surface, there was unethical, probably illegal, and certainly bizarre behavior, and we feel offended by this and we feel compelled to do something to prove that we are keeping our House in order.

I am not an expert on the legal part of this case. I would not pretend to be, and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct deserves the credit for the effort they went through to dig out the information. But the process disturbs me, and that is why I wanted to take a minute or two to talk about that.

The point was made earlier that the House's conditions are a lot different than the legal conditions for guilt and, therefore, they are not as stringent. But we would not be here if Mr. TRAFICANT had not been convicted, and so that is key. That is the important issue.

And that trial bothers me. I do not accept it as a good, fair, legitimate trial. I do not think all the witnesses were heard that should have been heard, and I think some of the witnesses may well have been ``bribed'' into doing and saying certain things.

But there is more that bothers me. I would like to see the appeals process completed. I was here in 1984, on my first tour of duty here in the House, and the George Hansen case came up and we voted then to convict. I think he had FEC violations and we voted to censure him. He lost his election, he lost his job, he lost his money, he went to jail and served time, and then he was exonerated on everything. He won all his appeals. I do not see the need to rush to judgment, certainly tonight.

I am not happy that when the gentleman finally gets an opportunity to come and defend himself, he gets a total of 30 minutes. Really? And have my colleagues looked at the record of the case in Ohio? It contains a stack a foot high. Thirty minutes to defend himself? I do not think that is really fair.

But there is another thing that bothers me, and that is the change of venue. I believe that the change of venue has been used historically in this country to make sure that the most horrible criminal gets a fair trial and gets his case moved from a area unduly influenced by media coverage. Have any of my colleagues ever heard of a trial being moved for the benefit of the State and to the disadvantage of the defendant? It may have happened, but I do not know about it, and I think that in itself is a reason to step back, take a look at this, and vote for the motion by the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, many of Congressman Traficant's actions are impossible to defend. Mr. Traficant has most likely engaged in unethical behavior. I would hope all my colleagues would join me in condemning any member who would abuse his office by requiring his staff to pay kick-backs to him and/or do personal work as a condition of employment. I also condemn in the strongest terms possible using one's office to obtain personal favors for constituents, the people we are sent here to represent. Such behavior should never be tolerated.

However, before expelling a member we must consider more than eccentric behavior and even ethical standards. Questions of whether the process of his court conviction and expulsion from Congress respected Mr. Traficant's constitutional right to a fair trail and the right to be represented of those who elected him to office, are every bit as important.

Many Americans believe that Congress daily engages in ethically questionable and unconstitutional actions which are far more injurious to the liberty and prosperity of the American people than the actions of Mr. Traficant. Some question the ability of Congress to judge the moral behavior of one individual when, to take just one example, we manage to give ourselves a pay raise without taking a direct vote on the issue.

Mr. Speaker, after carefully listening to last week's ethics hearing, I have serious concerns over whether Mr. Traficant received a fair trial. In particular, I am concerned over whether the change of venue denied Mr. Traficant a meaningful opportunity to present his care to a jury of his peers. Usually change of venue is instituted in cases where the defendant is incapable of receiving a fair trial. I am unaware of any case where the venue is changed for the benefit of the state.

However, the most disturbing accusations concern the possibility that Mr. Traficant was denied basic due process by not being allowed to present all of his witnesses at the trial. This failure raises serious questions as to whether Mr. Traficant had the opportunity to present an adequate defense. These questions are especially serious since one of the jurors from Mr. Traficant's criminal trial has told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, that had he heard the testimony of Richard Detore at Mr. Traficant's trial, he would have voted ``not guilty.''

Mr. Speaker, I also question the timing of this resolution and the process by which this resolution is being brought to the floor. Mr. Traficant's conviction is currently on appeal. Many Americans would reasonably wonder whether the case, and the question of Mr. Traficant's guilt, can be considered settled, until the appeals process is completed. I fail to see the harm that could be done to this body if we waited until Mr. Traficant has exhausted his right to appeal.

Prior to voting to expel Mr. Traficant before he has completed his appeals, my colleagues should consider the case of former Representative George Hansen. Like Mr. Traficant, Mr. Hansen was convicted in Federal court, censured by the Congress, and actually served time in Federal prison. However, Mr. Hansen was acquitted on appeal--after his life, career and reputation were destroyed.

If my colleagues feel it is important to condemn Mr. Traficant before the August recess, perhaps we should consider censure. Over the past 20 years, this body has censured, instead of expelled, members who have committed various ethical and even criminal activities, ranging from being convicted of bribery to engaging in sexual activity with under-age subordinates.

I am also troubled that Mr. Traficant is only being granted a half-hour to plead his case before the house. Spending only an hour to debate this resolution, as if expelling a member of Congress is of no more importance than honoring Paul Ecke's contributions to the Poinsettia industry, does no service to this Congress.

In conclusion Mr. Speaker, because of my concerns over the fairness of Mr. Traficant's trial I believe it is inappropriate to consider this matter until Mr. Traficant has exhausted his right to appeal.

[laserhaas]

24. This is the portion that is MOST important...

Prior to voting to expel Mr. Traficant before he has completed his appeals, my colleagues should consider the case of former Representative George Hansen. Like Mr. Traficant, Mr. Hansen was convicted in Federal court, censured by the Congress, and actually served time in Federal prison. However, Mr. Hansen was acquitted on appeal--after his life, career and reputation were destroyed.

James Traficant (errantly) believed he was forbidden from appeal.

[FSogol]

32. So you are posting some crap from Ron Paul to support the delusion that Traficant was innocent?

you even hide the fact that you were referring to Ron Paul by writing: "Here's a copy of POTUS candidate Paul's remarks to Congress."



BTW, Fuck Ron Paul.

[laserhaas]

33. Posting a fact.

Something that you lack a propensity for.

[FSogol]

35. I'll repeat: Fuck Ron Paul.

[Chan790]

27. Sorry, I have no pity for corrupt pols.

Regardless of party. I'm unilaterally dismissive of after-the-fact claims they were railroaded as-well. Corrupt politicians engage in the most fundamental breach of the public trust and the sanction should be most-severe; I've advocated before that public corruption by elected officials regardless of amount or conditionality should be a mandatory life w/o parole. No pleading to a lesser charge either, no pardons like Rostenkowski got; go to court and prove your innocence or go away forever. If you're convicted and you're innocent, you have all the time in the world to prove it.

You can mourn Trafficant. I will mourn that he and too many other corrupt pols will not or did not die in prison. Good riddance to political trash.

[laserhaas]

28. Your commentary is crude, biased and rude; while also being obtuse to the facts noted above.

It is hard for one to argue, in truly progressive fashion;
when the facts have no bare on the debate at hand.

[reddread]

30. the implication of uncorrupt politicians is exactly like

the implication of a liberal media.
they will never be able to post even a photograph of those unicorns.

[Chan790]

34. I read your facts above.

They are...frankly...apologia after the fact. A waste of time and keystrokes.

I have no need of elegance in discussing political corruption. If the sanctions were more severe perhaps the notion of an not-corrupt politician would not be such farce.

As far as I am concerned, Trafficant isn't worth the breath to defend. Any effort to whitewash his corruption is an effort wasted. You can strive to clear his legacy, it can never erase that it was the actions of James Trafficant that besmirched his legacy.

[FSogol]

29. Unrec. What a bunch of bollocks. Traficant was corrupt and foolish.

Birds of a feather in some cases.

[msanthrope]

31. Neither him, nor his hair, were innocent. nt

[MohRokTah]

36. Traficant will always be remembered.

Mostly as the most crooked, dishonest, lying Piece of Shit politician of his age.

[Ikonoklast]

37. Traficant was a crook. On the take from the mob his entire political career.

Good riddance.

[laserhaas]

38. Makes you feel real good, to bad mouth a dead guy.

One who never took a dime.

Ever!

From any special interests.

[Ikonoklast]

39. You are totally wrong.

Traficant was just like Joe Arpaio when he was sheriff, crooked as all Hell.


I assume you don't live in NE OH, or you'd never say anything that stupid. Traficant was a racist bigot, on the take.

[GGJohn]

40. Crap!!!!

Traficant, may he RIP, was crooked and corrupt, and all your posts to the contrary doesn't change that fact.

[LostOne4Ever]

42. Even ignoring the fact that he was a corrupt PoS

He was an anti-choice teabagging bigot who wanted to get rid of the 16th amendment.

Sorry, he was the epitome of the type of politician that we need to kick out of office.