Live Thread -- Traficant Expulsion Vote

CSPAN, et al. | July 24, 2002

[Howlin]

Recovering_Democrat suggested a live thread for the "song and dance" about to take place up on the Hill, so here it is!

If you see/hear it, post it.

[swheats]

The 2 would be Condit and Frank? This will have to be the most hypocritical vote I've ever witnessed.

[R2]

Doesn't Traficant get to vote?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Ohio Rep. Wants Traficant Vote Delay (AP)
An Ohio congressman on Wednesday said he would ask the House to delay its historic expulsion vote against Rep. James Traficant for his conviction on racketeering, bribery and tax evasion.
- Jul 24 3:30 PM ET

[NeoCaveman]

[swheats]

would his 1 vote matter? His weirdness makes these guys look like they're doing something noble.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

House set to vote today on giving Traficant the boot Members will meet at 6 p.m. to decide Traficant's fate

[ProudAmerican2]

We might lose a congressman but we might gain a talk show host.

Of course, there is still the small matter of some jail time.

[NeoCaveman]

From your article

To ensure that the vote goes forward, Rep. Loretta Sanchez ( news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., late Tuesday made a motion on the House floor for the Traficant vote to occur within 48 hours.

Sanchez was one of the first House members to call for Traficant's expulsion after his conviction. "I think he tarnishes all of us," Sanchez said in April.

Loretta has had it out for Jim since day one as he was one of the Congressman who voted against seating her in the House seat she stole from B-1 Bob Dornan.

[BillyBoy]

>> I don't see it or hear it. BTW, they can vote to expel Jim Trafficant but his constituents will just vote him right back into office. <<

Representatives who are expelled from Congress are PROHIBITED from running for that office again. They were interviewing the last guy who was expelled (Rep. Ozzie Myers in '80) and he said he does a lot of behind-the-scenes work on political campaigns but he is barred from ever seeking elected office himself. (The corrupt 'RAT says he's "not bitter" about this fact)

On the other hand, if Traficant is simply imprisoned because of his conviction then he could techinically continue to serve in congress. As long as he's re-elected then there is nothing to prevent a convicted felon from currently holding office. I think a mayor of Boston was re-elected from prison back in the 40s or something.

Impeachment is slightly different than expulsion-- you are prohibited from holding office in the future only if the articles of impeachment specifically say so. For instance, Alcee Hastings was impeached and then removed as a federal judge...but the impeachment was because he held appointed federal office and they wanted to ensure he would not be appointed as judge again. Later he ran for congress and won thanks to stupid Democrats.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Quotable Quotes from Traficant's Congressional Hearing

• When the Youngstown Democrat was mobbed by photographers at the start of his first Washington appearance since his conviction, he irritably bellowed: "If I had a gastric emission, it would destroy every camera in the joint."
• "I want you to disregard all the opposing counsel has said. I think they're delusionary. I think they've had something funny for lunch in their meal, I think they should be handcuffed, chained to a fence and flogged, and all of their hearsay evidence should be thrown the hell out. And if they lie again, I'm going to go over there and kick them in the crotch. Thank you very much." _ Traficant's closing statement to the ethics panel.
• "I did not own that farm. I was involved in no fraudulent activities. I insured that farm. I know the government is trying to take it, and they can shove that deed up their subpoena." _Traficant, responding to questions from committee lawyer Paul Lewis about labor done at his family's horse farm.
• "Are all those volumes your evidence? Well, you know what you can do with it, don't you?" _ Traficant to the committee lawyers Paul Lewis and Kenneth Kellner upon entering the hearing room and seeing large three-ring binders, boxes and charts leaning up against a table.
• "I love America but I hate the government ... I know what you're going to do because I know this institution, but what you've done is allow the executive branch to become so powerful that people fear their government." _ Traficant, admitting that he expects to kicked out of Congress and thrown in prison.
• "You're looking at the No. 1 target of the Department of Justice. And I hate those bastards," Traficant said
• "You're looking at a man that may be re-elected from a prison cell," he said.
• "When I go to the floor for my final execution, I'll dress in a denim suit," Traficant said. "It will be part Willie Nelson, John Wayne, Will Smith, 'Men in Black,' James Brown. Maybe I'll do a Michael Jackson moon walk."
• "Probably with my two hands. I may throw some karate shots in there. Actually, my body is a lethal, lethal weapon." _ Traficant, on how he plans to defend himself before his colleagues.
• "My following has basically been the small people. ... I have friends in low places, and the people of this institution have never supported me. I have never been supported by the major newspaper in my town, ever. I've never been supported, basically, by the Ohio Democratic Party, who didn't want me. The congressional delegation I was elected to actually said that they didn't want me. I don't think anybody wanted me." _ Traficant, on the House ethics committee decision finding him guilty of nine ethics violations.
• "I have nothing against Congress, but Congress probably does what they think is the best for themselves. And I don't blame anybody for controlling me. After all, I'm the kind of candidate that looks to be controlled. I'm very dangerous. I open my mouth. I speak to what I think happens and it bothers people. And I won't stop doing that." _ Traficant, on his feelings about the House proceedings against him.
• "My name will appear on the ballot. I want the people back home to know that they can vote for me. And it would be an unusual situation in American history, the first in American history I think, and I'm going to make this statement: I can run. I can operate and function as effectively as any member of Congress from behind bars." _ Traficant, on his plans to seek re-election in the fall.

  Quotable Quotes from Traficant's Federal Trial

• "Youngstown is a unique animal," Traficant told the judge. "There is a political system in Youngstown that is very oppressive. I had to do what I had to do to win. People in Youngstown know that political system. They know Jim Traficant."
• "If you have nothing to hide, why don't you take a chance to get the Big Kahuna?" Traficant said, challenging Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Morford to face 15 minutes of grilling on the witness stand.
• He then said that prosecutors were "scared to death" of questioning his witnesses. "They have the testicles of an ant," Traficant said.
• "I do caution the court that if you poison the jury pool one more time, you'll have to send the marshal for me because I'm not coming back to this courtroom," Traficant said.
• "There's nobody going to make me do a damn thing," he said. "This is the United States of America still. This is not an old Soviet gulag." (about the judge possibly forcing him to do closing arguments.)
• "I'll rest when I'm ready to rest. This trial will stop when I'm ready to stop."
• "For me to expose myself to questions that may not necessarily be relevant to the issues at hand, but may make a juror question some part of my character or some part of my behavior, would be absolutely foolish," Traficant said about his decision not to testify.
• Judge Lindsey Wells asked him if he had any other motions. Replied Traficant: "I have to go to the bathroom."
• "I haven't looked at the evidence in my case because I knew they didn't have any damn evidence," Traficant told jurors yesterday morning during closing arguments.
• "I don't think there's any hope on appeal for me because I'm too much wanted," he said, continuing his claim that the government is out to get him.

[Catspaw]

I'm there.

[Diva Duck]

Can't he do that from jail?

[mhking]

Where's the squirrel wig?

[jackliberty]

Traficant will be on Hannity & Colmes tonight after the vote. Should be interesting.

[Howlin]

Hey, thanks for all the work!

[Catspaw]

6 p.m. EDT, 5 p.m. CDT, 4 p.m. MDT & so on.

[swheats]

For the record: Members of Congress expelled from the House - The Associated Press

[Howlin]

I think they'll bring people in off the streets to vote against him.

[NeoCaveman]

Traficant ping, per your request dude.