Posted on 07/24/2002 7:32:35 PM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday expelled Democratic Rep. James Traficant of Ohio, making the former sheriff turned convicted felon the second House member since the Civil War to be tossed out of Congress.
On a vote of 420-1, lawmakers booted the nine-term Traficant for ethics violations stemming from his April conviction on federal charges of bribery, kickbacks and tax evasion.
Traficant, 61, became the second House member since the Civil War and the fifth in history to be expelled, and the first since Democratic Rep. Michael Myers of Pennsylvania was removed after a 1980 bribery conviction.
The expulsion vote came after a passionate floor debate during which Traficant professed innocence but a number of colleagues said he must go.
"We have to do our job," said Rep. Gene Green, a Texas Democrat. "If we can't remove a member of Congress who has been convicted of 10 felony counts ... we risk losing the faith and trust of the American people."
"I want your vote," Traficant said in closing. "My people elected me. I don't think you should take their representative away." But he added, softly. "Vote your conscience."
The only member who voted against expulsion was Rep. Gary Condit, a California Democrat who was defeated in a reelection bid this year after being romantically linked to a missing federal intern.
Traficant is to be sentenced next Tuesday for his felony convictions. He plans to run for re-election in November as an independent.
Who was the Congressman Traficant was referring to that had sex with the pages? That guy wasn't expelled. What about the 1,000 documents and no fingerprints. He wasn't allowed to admit his tapes in court or to question the IRS or FBI in court. There is no hard evidence in this case.
In addition, back in 1996 when they were after him one of the witnesses admitted they had coerced him into saying that he had over heard Traficant taking a bribe.
Too many questions to convict and expel this congressman particularly in view of what the others have been allowed to get away with.
I hope he runs again and is elected. Boy, wouldn't that be a slap in their faces! What a bunch of arrogant hypocrites!
One more thing, what exactly did Traficant say about an FBI agent raping one of his constituents? He actually said the agents name. I couldn't believe it.
Subject: .The Bankruptcy of The United States United States Congressional Record, March 17, 1993 Vol. 33, page H-1303
Speaker-Rep. James Traficant, Jr. (Ohio) addressing the House:
"Mr. Speaker, we are here now in chapter 11.. Members of Congress are official trustees presiding over the greatest reorganization of any Bankrupt entity in world history, the U.S. Government. We are setting forth hopefully, a blueprint for our future. There are some who say it is a coroner's report that will lead to our demise. It is an established fact that the United States Federal Government has been dissolved by the Emergency Banking Act, March 9, 1933, 48 Stat. 1, Public Law 89-719; declared by President Roosevelt, being bankrupt and insolvent. H.J.R. 192, 73rd Congress m session June 5, 1933 - Joint Resolution To Suspend The Gold Standard and Abrogate The Gold Clause dissolved the Sovereign Authority of the United States and the official capacities of all United States Governmental Offices, Officers, and Departments and is further evidence that the United States Federal Government exists today in name only.
The receivers of the United States Bankruptcy are the International Bankers, via the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. All United States Offices, Officials, and Departments are now operating within a de facto status in name only under Emergency War Powers. With the Constitutional Republican form of Government now dissolved, the receivers of the Bankruptcy have adopted a new form of government for the United States. This new form of government is known as a Democracy, being an established Socialist/Communist order under a new governor for America. This act was instituted and established by transferring and/or placing the Office of the Secretary of Treasury to that of the Governor of the International Monetary Fund. Public Law 94-564, page 8, Section H.R. 13955 reads in part: "The U.S. Secretary of Treasury receives no compensation for representing the United States."
Image: United States Congressional Record, March 17, 1993 Vol. 33, page H-1303
If he hadn't tried to educate America he would be doing just fine like the rest of the cowards in the Congress and Senate. The truth is a forbidden topic in DC.
Mr. Speaker, the White House was not the only American institution that was trashed. The Clinton administration not only trashed, they shredded our Constitution.
I yield back the garbage at the former Clinton White House.
something tells me we haven't heard the last of this man...
This guy belongs behind bars, either serving time or serving drinks. He has no place on the United States Congress, and Republicans who support him with one breath cannot lay claim to any moral high ground with the next.
It's doesn't say much about a person if they enforce the law when it's to their advantage. But if they stand by that law when it's to their DISadvantage, then you know they are bound by principle, not expediency.
HOWEVER, there are significant number of Congress Critters who probably do likewise. Traficant had a valid point. Far worse violations of House Ethics have occurred and the member was not expelled. Alcee Hastings judging Traficant's fitness to server does not endear me to the institution.
He was setup and no one cares.. I have the Torch in my state,,,, Yahoo.. He played ball. Traficant was not even close to a team player.
what happens if he wins on appeal?
After watching the ethics hearings, I am convinced that it was a set-up from the beginning. Traficant fought a good fight, but never had a chance against the all powerful government bureaucracies, including congress. Once you are targeted, that's it.
I agree with you, Ted Kennedy should have been kicked out of congress and sent to jail for murder.
From the Arkansas Statue on age of consent:
Sexual Misconduct - Section 5-14-107 (a) A person commits sexual misconduct if he engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with another person not his spouse who is less than sixteen (16) years old.
(b) Sexual misconduct is a Class B misdemeanor.
Arkansas statute on Age of Consent
It looks as though I'll have to pull the Statutory Rape thing off my list. Thanks for helping me to clarify it. :)
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