[jimtorr]

arguing his crimes could undermine Americans' faith in their government

They have got to be joking. After eight years of Billy-Bob Clinton ?

Traficant is just a traditional small-time crook. Personally, I would let him off with probation, on the condition that he gets an on-air job as a political commentator with one of the big networks. He is immensly entertaining.

[Alissa]

Bump - exactly my first thought when I read that sentence. It's too late!

[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.