McKelvey wants Traficant freed

By Bertram de Souza

Democrat George M. McKelvey, who made national news in 2004 when, as mayor of Youngstown, he endorsed Republican President George Bush, said Saturday that he has been urging the White House to grant former Congressman James A. Traficant Jr. either a presidential pardon or a commutation of his prison sentence.

McKelvey, who appeared on "The Valley's Talkin,'" an hour-long radio talk show on WGFT Talk 1330 hosted by Dr. William Binning and this writer, said he is willing to do whatever he can to help Traficant leave prison early. The former 17th District Democratic congressman is serving an eight-year sentence in federal prison. He was found guilty of 10 federal criminal charges relating to his public office. He is scheduled to be released next fall.

In the no-holds-barred, sometimes heated exchanges with this writer, McKelvey also talked about the $45 million, taxpayer-funded Chevrolet Centre that he orchestrated, and the vacant 33rd District state Senate seat.

Listen to the show online