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Will Traficant’s address change Monday?
TweetThe Trumbull County Democratic Party chairman said the former congressman was ‘railroaded.’
If ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. is to be moved from a federal prison medical facility in Minnesota to a halfway house, Monday would be the first day it could happen.
Traficant, 67, rejected an offer in December to move to the Community Corrections Association’s halfway house on Market Street in Youngstown. That move would have taken place Monday.
Through his caseworker at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minn., the former congressman had requested placement at a facility in Akron or Cleveland.
Mike Deal of the Federal Bureau of Prisons said he could neither confirm nor deny Traficant’s potential move. He said he’s only permitted to comment on the current location of a federal inmate.
Convicted in 2002 of 10 counts, including bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion, Traficant’s prison term is up Sept. 2.
The bureau typically sends nonviolent prisoners to a halfway facility about six months before their release date. While at such a facility, an inmate must find employment and is usually given time to be with family.
Once Traficant’s sentence expires, he’ll be welcomed back to the Valley with open arms, said two local Democratic Party chairmen.
“He’s very well-liked, and he’s got a base [of supporters] here,” said Christ Michelakis, Trumbull County Democratic Party chairman. “I think he got railroaded. He was a good congressman, and he helped us a lot.”
Columbiana County Democratic Chairman Dennis Johnson, who worked 21‚Ñ2 years for Traficant when he served in the U.S. House, said, “So many people have a lot of good memories of him. I think he’ll be well-received. He and I were friends for a long time.”
When asked about Traficant’s conviction, Johnson said, “People have done an awful lot worse and got a lot less time” in prison.
Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini said Traficant’s illegal conduct “was, unfortunately, a black eye to our community. It was a black eye years ago, and I hope it’s behind us. We need to move forward and talk about the economy and what we can do to advance the community.”
A nine-term congressman, Traficant was known for his circa-1970s suits, bad hair [it was a toupee], tough-guy persona and one-minute speeches on the House floor critical of trade with China, ex-Attorney General Janet Reno, and various conspiracies he claimed the government covered up. He often used the phrase “Beam me up” from “Star Trek” in the speeches.
skolnick@vindy.com
Comments
jim was a grrrrr8 congressman. he was railroaded. its a shame that he fought so hard for the chevy centre. there was no credit for him for that project. it should be called the trafficant centre. god blees you jim.
No one in government was punished for burning the Branch Davidians alive at Waco. JJ Cafaro did no time for bribing Jim. Jobs lost to Chinese manufacturing plague us in a big way today. How did locking up the critical Jim Traficant for so long serve society?
We can disagree about how long he should have served in jail, but there should be no question that he was crooked and, by his own poor decisions, determined his fate.
The "welcomed back with open arms" talk from the Valley's political leaders will only serve to perpetually marginalize the area in a time when we need to demonstrate good governance and ethical leadership. These are traits absent from Traficant's resume, both in his dealings with his colleagues, his staff and his constituents.
When released, Traficant's sad tale should be retold, if only so we remember why he deserves the ignominy he has attained. And then we should move on and let him retire in peace.
Face it, he was too cheap to hire a full-time seasoned Lawyer, and he paid the price. Could have gotten 1 year in Elkton, but tried to showboat and woo a woman Federal Judge and got the max. Who cares anymore, he's old News. Get over it already Vindy!
Tyler is right--the excuse that he did what everyone else does only he got caught is just sad and a real comment on our valley. Its disgusting to me that Democratic leaders are welcoming the man back-he did his time and he doesn't deserve to be persecuted but he doesn't deserve folk hero status either--in fact if he truly loves this area he should stay away.
Waco was a case of a bunch of nutballs that had no reguard for society or the treatment of fellow human beings. I never met Jim Trafficant but my mom and dad along with everyone who has made a comment about him have said that he was someone who actually got things done. I agree with this article whole heartedly. He probably stepped on somebodies toes and they burned him. I think you will see more of Mr. Trafficant in the future.
The image of Jimbo the underdog who fought the FBI and got squashed ignores the mountains of evidence that the guy was crooked and got caught.
to all of you who would like to think jim was or is crook or what everelse, ask your self this. WHO THE HELL IN GOVERMENT ISNT. THERE IS SOME ONE IN EVERY BRANCH THAT ACCEPTS BRIBES AND HAS PEOPLE ON THE TAKE. THEY JUST HAVENT GOT CAUGHT YET. AND AS FOR JIM, HE IS NO RAT AND THAT IS WHY HE GOT A LONG PRISON SENTENCE. HE COULD OF PROBABLY TOOK DOWN THE WHOLE GOVERMENT BRANCH. BUT HE DIDNT.
gmann - trafficant is a crook. Even if the entire rest of Congress is also crooked, that doesn't change the fact that Trafficant is a crook. And if he wouldn't 'play ball' with the judge and court, then he didn't want that reduced sentence very badly, did he? He had no love for his fellow Congress-crooks. You're no doubt too young to remember, but he used to publicly refer to Congress as a bunch of wh o res and prost i tutes. He had no sense of loyalty to them that would have kept him from making a deal. He was simply too arrogant to accept that he was caught and that the judge wasn't going to be bullied by his loudmouth bluster.
big iimbo was and is a gret guy. and if you enjoy going to the chevy centre to see plays or anything else, u can thank him. he fought long and hard for that to be built. it wasnt until after he was sent to prison that the city decided to build it so they could take the credit for it.
To begin with; I was in the courtroom every minute of the trial of Jim Traficant! As a writer for the Y'town Fishwrap, can you, David Skolnick, say the same? I do not live in the Tri-County area; today is Friday the 13th, has JT's address changed?
My comments on other comments:
'tylersclark....' Another HACK from the Fishwrap; Were you in the court room every minute?, in the deliberation room?, did you testify at the trial?; if you answered no to all three; You need to keep your 'pie-hole' shut, about JT's character.
"TheLostPatrol' --- "...woo a woman Federal Judge..."; My friend, not only have you 'Lost your Patrol', but, you have 'Lost your MIND' !
'cityguy' --- Traficant DOES deserve folk hero status; ps Stop drinking the 'Kool-Aid' from the Vindicator! it stunt's your brain.
'tylersclark' --- YOU AGAIN !!! "...the mountain of evidence..." WROOOONG!! It was "Manufactured Evidence"; The FBI, if needed, can produce evidence, documentation, photos, etc. that will convince a jury that the earth is flat!
'NoBS' --- you are hilarious; do me a favor, Change your user-name to 'ALLBS' !
To all the rest of the comments; I'll say this... Keep the Faith. Your thoughts and feelings about JT are Right and Justifiable. The 'victims' in the 2nd Trial of Jim Traficant were; the residents of the 17th District, the state of Ohio and the nation! Why? because your (our) voice in D.C. has been silenced for almost 8-years!! PEACE and I'm out (for now).