Posted on 04/16/2002 5:49:27 AM PDT by Lance Romance
House Warns Traficant Not to Vote
Tue Apr 16, 4:51 AM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. James Traficant (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio remains a member of Congress despite his conviction last week on multiple felony charges, but apparently will risk expulsion by showing up to vote.
Traficant was found guilty last week of taking kickbacks from staff and bribes and gifts from businessmen. The charges, including tax evasion, carry a maximum penalty of 63 years in prison, but under federal guidelines he is likely to get much less jail time when he is sentenced June 27.
Traficant has said he plans to appeal his conviction, and also to seek re-election.
House rules say a member in Traficant's position should refrain from voting, but do not bar him from doing so.
Although "this provision is not mandatory, we emphasize in the strongest possible terms that if you violate the clear principles of this provision ... by voting in the House, you risk subjecting yourself to action," the ethics committee letter said.
Traficant's office had already said earlier Monday that he would not return to Congress this week amid warnings that his colleagues would move to expel him if he appeared on the House floor.
Traficant chief of staff Charlie Straub said the congressman decided he didn't want to "put anyone in that position."
"In interpretation of the House rules, there's some indication he could participate in legislative activity," Straub said. But Traficant was told that if he appeared on the House floor to vote, some lawmakers might try to expel him.
Straub said he did not know who had contacted Traficant about the possible action by his colleagues.
House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt has already called for Traficant to resign and the House ethics committee has announced that it will meet to consider disciplinary action against Traficant.
Expulsion would require the approval of two-thirds of the 435-member House.
"He is not going to resign," Straub said. "He has indicated that for sure."
Throw in Georgia's own Cynthia McKinney and you have a deal.
Just another chapter of shame in the Book of the Democrats.
No really, Scotty. Beam him up!
Instead of calling it just "Congress," it should be "A Congress of Criminals in Concert."
I agree about McKinney.
Ah yes, the Morons of Oxy.
Putting the military on the border to protect it from terrorists? Dims would want to have them met by the "Welcome Wagon".
"Congress sold out! This is a damned house of political prostitutes!"
Rep. James Traficant, 13 Oct 1990.
A SCHOOL WITHOUT PRAYER IS A SCHOOL WITHOUT GOD
November 7, 1997
Mr. Speaker, students in Alabama are skipping school protesting the fact that they are not allowed to pray. Think about it. Even though America has guns, rape, drugs, even heroin and murder in our schools, students are not allowed to pray. Unbelievable. A school without prayer is a school without God and a nation that denies prayer is a nation that denies God; and a nation that denies God is a nation that just may welcome the devil.
Members of Congress, the Constitution may separate church and State, but the Founders never intended to separate God and the American people.
I yield back any common sense and logic we have left.
EASIER TO FIND ELVIS THAN A GOOD FACTORY JOB HERE IN AMERICA
November 12, 1997
Mr. Speaker, Kodak is laying off 10,000 workers. Now if that is not enough to overexpose your most recent negative, Fruit of the Loom is cutting 3,000 jobs and moving to Mexico. Unbelievable. It is getting easier to find Charlie Trie and Elvis than it is to find a good factory job here in America.
Beam me up. I think it is time for Congress to ask themselves a very simple little commonsense question: If our trade program is so great, why does Japan not do it? Think about that.
I yield back all the balance of jobs and say one last thing here. From snapshots to long johns, American workers just keep getting their assets kicked.
FREEDOM FOR VIOLENT CRIMINALS
March 13, 1997
He has a certain way with words.Mr. Speaker, against the wishes of Florida officials, the Supreme Court has allowed 500 violent criminals in Florida to go free. When they restored time off to relieve overcrowding, the court said promises were made.
Now, check this out: Mitchell Sexton stabbed his father to death and he was released. Norm Eastman beat a 2-year-old to death. He was released. John Yearby beat a homeless man to death with a baseball bat. He was released. Now, if that is not enough to overturn your convictions and add insult to injury, ladies and gentlemen, listen to the news: All victims will be notified of these violent offender releases.
Beam me up, Mr. Speaker. In my opinion, America has murder, rape and violence in record numbers because some of our judges are so dumb they could throw themselves at the ground and miss. Maybe, just maybe, if judges start supporting the rights of innocent victims, we would not have so much murder. .
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