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One of America's greatest Congressmen ever, James Traficant, is the subject of a House panel inquiry over possible ethics violations and faces a House vote on his expulsion. Like any red blooded American, though, he's not taking these accusations lying down. In fact, if he falls, he's going down kicking and swinging, or possibly moon walking, not meekly at all.
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"And, Congress, if you still believe the propaganda about the assassination of JFK, by God, you still believe that Mae West is a virgin."
Convicted of corruption, tax evasion, and bribery in April, Mr. Traficant, faced with only the second expulsion of a sitting Congressman since the Civil War, has refused to resign his position (NY Times, free reg, etc). While some would urge him to spare the country the ordeal and spectacle of a full House vote, Traficant has declined. Believing that his trial was a setup by the FBI and the IRS (or Internal Rectal Service, as he puts it) and unfailingly proclaiming his innocence, he intends to do everything he can to keep his Congressional seat. "I apologize to the committee. If I had known, I would be here. I was on other media broadcasts trying to demean you and everybody else." He rose to power after successfully defending himself from FBI allegations in 1983 that, as county sheriff, he had accepted bribes from local mobsters. Traficant proved to the jury that he actually was trying to ferret out the criminal element in our midst, but had neglected to tell other authorities about his plans. After that, he was elected to Congress in 1984, where he has served nine terms. "I've been under investigation even since I walked out of the 1983 trial -- because I beat 'em." Many in Congress believe that a conviction, warranted or not, makes someone unfit to serve their country. James A. Traficant, Jr. is not one of those men. He is matter-of-fact about going to jail. He even thinks that it is likely. However, this man will not let the possibility of prison deter him from his duty. Although he has run as a Democrat for the past eighteen years, he will campaign for his House seat as an Independent; Traficant will not let others keep him from what he feels is his duty to serve the people of Ohio, even if he's incarcerated. In fact, he "might just well be the first American to win a congressional seat while incarcerated." James Traficant represents what America is about. This colorful, maverick character has been enlivening Congressional hearings for nearly twenty years while serving his constituents, who have elected him to represent them nine times. He has held true to his conscience all the while, and we find that admirable. Congress needs more men like him. To close, we wish the best to Mr. Traficant in his coming hearing, and would like to end with the phrase that has become his trademark over the years: |
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