Tue Feb 5, 2:21 PM ET
By THOMAS J. SHEERAN, Associated Press Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) - Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.'s federal corruption and bribery trial began Tuesday with the nine-term Democrat immediately challenging the trial arrangements.
Traficant, who is representing himself, objected to a closed circuit television that allows the public and media to watch from another room while the courtroom is filled with prospective jurors.
Traficant wanted everyone in the courtroom, saying the television did not show "the ambiance" of the trial. He also objected to a requirement that a non-attorney he wants to take notes for him be required to sit at the defense table.
The judge stood by the arrangements. "That's the way we do it," U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells said.
Traficant is accused of accepting gifts and favors from constituents in exchange for lobbying in Washington and of forcing his staff to make cash kickbacks to him or do favors for him at his horse farm.
The Justice Department intends to show a pattern of corruption to support a racketeering charge.
The trial ended for the day early Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, lawyers were scheduled to review questionnaires filled out by prospective jurors.
Before entering the courthouse Tuesday, Traficant told ABC's "Good Morning America" that he could not predict victory.
"I'm like a mouse looking up at an elephant asking the elephant to surrender, quite frankly," Traficant said.
The 10 corruption and bribery charges carry a maximum penalty of more than 60 years in prison and $2 million in fines.
"I don't like going through this, but I've had it, and I'm going to stand up and face the charges," Traficant said on CNN's "Crossfire" Monday night. "Bring it on. I'm very comfortable with the case."
Prosecutor Craig Morford said he was concerned that Traficant's media interviews were meant to influence potential jurors.
"I am asked the question and I simply respond," Traficant told the judge in response.
Traficant said he felt the prosecution prejudiced potential jurors through various pretrial motions.
Wells warned Traficant to behave inside the court and out. "This trial is not going to be a donnybrook," she said, using a term Traficant used in a pretrial interview.
About 100 people are expected on the initial jury panel in a trial that could last about eight weeks.
It is the second time that Traficant has defended himself against criminal charges, though he is not a lawyer. His acquittal in 1983 on charges that he took $163,000 in bribes from mobsters and filed a false income tax return while serving as a sheriff ignited his political career.
The Justice Department said it had FBI tapes of conversations Traficant had with organized crime figures and his signed affidavit that he took mob money.
But Traficant convinced the jury he had been acting undercover while trying to destroy mob influence in Mahoning County.
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