- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday expelled Democratic Rep. James
Traficant of Ohio, making the former sheriff turned convicted felon the
second House member since the Civil War to be tossed out of Congress.
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- On a vote of 420-1, lawmakers booted the nine-term Traficant
for ethics violations stemming from his April conviction on federal charges
of bribery, kickbacks and tax evasion.
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- Traficant, 61, became the second House member since the
Civil War and the fifth in history to be expelled, and the first since
Democratic Rep. Michael Myers of Pennsylvania was removed after a 1980
bribery conviction.
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- Expulsion came after a passionate floor debate during
which Traficant professed innocence but colleagues said he must go.
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- "We have to do our job," said Rep. Gene Green,
a Texas Democrat. "If we can't remove a member of Congress who has
been convicted of 10 felony counts ... we risk losing the faith and trust
of the American people."
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- "I want your vote," Traficant said in closing.
"My people elected me. I don't think you should take their representative
away." But he added, softly. "Vote your conscience."
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- The only member who voted against expulsion was Rep.
Gary Condit, a California Democrat who was defeated in a re-election bid
this year after being romantically linked to a missing federal intern.
Traficant did not vote.
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- Traficant, who is to be sentenced next Tuesday for his
felony convictions, has maintained he was the victim of a federal vendetta
and trumped-up charges in retaliation for years of criticizing the government.
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- Lashing out at the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service
and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Traficant pointed to himself
on the House floor on Wednesday and said: "No American should fear
their government, and this guy doesn't."
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- SKINNY TIES
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- Traficant mixed a passionate defense with self-deprecating
humor, drawing laughter and warnings against excessively strong language.
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- "Am I different? Yes," Traficant said. "Do
I wear skinny ties? Yes." But he warned colleagues, "take into
consideration what you are doing."
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- Rep. Doc Hastings, a Washington State Republican who
helped lead the ethics probe of Traficant, said: "This is a day each
of us hoped would never come and we pray will not come again."
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- But Hastings said the Ethics Committee found "clear
and convincing evidence" Traficant misused his office for personal
gain and must be removed.
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- A federal jury in Cleveland on April 11 found Traficant
had raked in bribes from businesses and kickbacks from staff, filed false
tax returns and forced aides to work on his family farm and boat.
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- Over the weekend, a juror in his trial was quoted as
saying he believed he made a mistake when he voted to convict.
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- Rep. Steven LaTourette, an Ohio Republican, cited the
juror in introducing a motion on Wednesday to put off the expulsion vote
until Sept. 4, the day lawmakers return from their summer recess. Members
rejected the motion, 285-146.
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- Traficant was first elected to Congress in 1984 after
he successfully defended himself against federal charges he had accepted
money from organized crime while sheriff.
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- He was sheriff for four years in Mahoning County, Ohio,
and became a hero to the downtrodden when he refused to enact foreclosure
notices on the homes of jobless steelworkers.
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- "James Traficant became a cult figure back home,"
said Tom Flynn, who teaches political communications at Slippery Rock University
and has tracked his career.
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- "He was first known as a star quarterback in high
school who went on to play at the University of Pittsburgh," Flynn
said. "He then made a name for himself as a charismatic drug counselor."
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- Once in Congress, Traficant routinely took on the establishment,
winning rave reviews back home. But his criminal conviction in April rocked
his district.
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- "Though some people still stick with him, I think
a lot of people have grown sick of him," Flynn said.
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- Traficant plans to run for re-election in November as
an independent. "Don't be surprised if I win behind bars," he
told colleagues.
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