Federal prosecutors seek prison sentence for Ohio congressman

Sac Bee ^ | 7/12/02 | The Associated Press

[NormsRevenge]

CLEVELAND (AP) - Prosecutors are asking that Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. get at least 7 years in prison for corruption, arguing his crimes could undermine Americans' faith in their government when it is needed most.

Traficant, a Democrat running for re-election as an independent, is set for sentencing July 30 and could get up to 63 years. The congressman was found guilty of payoffs from businessmen and his own staff.

[Carry_Okie]

I note with some dismay that 14th Amendment equal protection only applies to laws of the States.

[hattend]

Prosecutors are asking that Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. get at least 7 years in prison for corruption, arguing his crimes could undermine Americans' faith in their government when it is needed most.

Hahahahahahah!!!! Better get 400+ cells ready, then.

[Dog]

Stop I am laughing myself silly here.....

[andy_card]

Arrest the liebrally biased hosts of the CSpan call-in Talk Shows:-?

I know. Got to stop those liebrallels.

[Radioactive]

According to a story told on a local talk show (Pastor Ernie Sanders,) a lawyer who was looking into the Trafficant situation stated that Trafficants problems started when he tried to put an end to the IRS. They then attacked him in court and put a jury together that was fatal.

As one jurist said "We convicted him because he showed disrespect for the judge."

Imagine that. Guilty because you didn't bow down to the federal judge. God help us.

[willyb_jr]

A reminder here

[willyb_jr]

Well, I really screwed that up....back to the sandbox!

[willyb_jr]

try this instead

[Tourist Guy]

He's already been sentenced to a lifetime of bad hair days.
X'42 and her husband deserve the pokey waaaay before small-time-jimmy does.

Too bad Scotty didn't beam him up...

[Tourist Guy]

Haven't heard Pastor Ernie in years! Glad he's still on the air!

Last time I was listening to him, that guy (whats his name!) was taking the rap for the Sam Shepard murder. At the time he (Eberling?) was still alive. I remember vividly that the chain-of-custody was broken on his blood/dna sample.

Bump for What's Right, what's left!

[FreedomPoster]

Guys, guys, guys. It's not fu.. Mumia; it's

FRY MUMIA!

Thank you. And now back to your regularly scheduled FReeping.

[CONSERVE]

Can anyone give me the url for
the Traficant one minute speeches on the floor
I forgot to bookmark it.
It is a amazing site.

[StriperSniper]

One Minute

A Google search on 'traficant one minute' puts it right on top. There are some other sites that come back on that search that might have some not included.

[Travelgirl]

Traficant is my favorite democrat. I like him more than most Republicans. He tried to stand up to the IRS for us taxpayers. I'm calling my representatives Monday, asking them to show support for him.

[kcvl]

his crimes could undermine Americans' faith in their government

They are kidding aren't they? The Clinton crooks already did that. A little late with worrying about my faith in government.

[JusticeLives]

"Prosecutors are asking that Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. get at least 7 years in prison for corruption, arguing his crimes could undermine Americans' faith in their government when it is needed most."

Oh, this is RICH. Like Clinton DIDN'T undermine our faith in government. Like Clinton setting loose Puerto Rican terrorists didn't undermine our faith in government. Like WAGGING THE DOG didn't undermine our faith. Like Clinton sticking it to our Armed Services didn't undermine our faith. I guess all the pardons of his criminal friends didn't phase us a bit either. (Don't get me started).

Traficant is one of few with basketballs who will challenge the veracity of our crooked elected officials*, so, of course they want to throw him in jail. They want to shut him up. Period. He's definitely not an angel but I can think of several Hillcritters who deserve to be thrown in the slammer before Traficant.

*Others: Aldrich and Trulock

[drlevy88]

In court papers Friday, federal prosecutors argued that Traficant showed no remorse and made his crimes worse by repeatedly accusing the FBI, the Justice Department and the courts of misconduct.

Traficant may be guilty as hell, but this part is pure tyrannical payback. He has the right to whistleblow, even as he has the obligation to pay for his own crimes.

[backhoe]

Damn, James I know you probably deserve to go to jail.. But it's gonna kill me to see you go when there are SO MANY in Congress that I am sure deserve it so much more. You and your colorful retoric will be sorely missed.

I agree. Whenever I heard him speak on the floor, 9 times out of ten, I agreed with him, and the other time, I'd at least find myself going "Hmmm... need to think about that some more..."

[E Rocc]

Prosecutors are asking that Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. get at least 7 years in prison for corruption, arguing his crimes could undermine Americans' faith in their government when it is needed most.

So when is Sheila Jackson-Lee (the New Copernicus) being sentenced?

-Eric