James Traficant
Posted on 07/27/2002 3:34:07 AM PDT by ResistorSister
JACKSON TWP. — On the last Friday night before his sentencing, expelled congressman James A. Traficant Jr. took a break from his legal troubles and took refuge at his latest favorite hangout — the Holiday Inn bar in Belden Village.
However, he couldn’t totally avoid media attention, even at the BV Bar & Grill, inside the hotel on Dressler Road NW. A Channel 21 reporter intercepted him in the lobby sometime after 9 p.m., and he gave his usual diatribe against the FBI, the IRS and government officials in general.
As his interview ended, he turned to a Repository reporter and said, “You never said a good word about me. Get the hell out!”
James Traficant
But later, after sitting down to relax, he was more receptive to conversation.
“It’s reserved. It’s a nice, quiet place,” said the former congressman, 61, who represented Youngstown since 1985. He sat back with five people at a table and sipped a glass of red wine as the Retro Sonics band played.
“I enjoy having a drink to that music. I might dance later on. ... I have unusual feet.”
He took time to shake hands with and hug several patrons, and to say kind words.
Minutes later, he did dance. Traficant got up and slow danced with a middle-aged woman wearing white denim shorts. Then, he reached out and grasped the hand of another woman, and she joined him on the dance floor.
Traficant looked relaxed, wearing a black button-down shirt, black slacks — no tie.
The man who became the fifth congressman to ever be expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night, said he feels welcome in Stark County.
“I feel I’m well-received and well-known in Stark County,” he said.
Traficant’s staff representative and former Portage County sheriff J.D. Wilkens accompanied him on his night out on the town.
“I can’t begin to gauge the stress this guy’s been under,” Wilkens said. “It’s a place where you can go where no one bothers you because Jim’s a celebrity.”
And he appeared, in fact, to be a star.
As Traficant took in the scene, at least two attractive women asked for his autograph and gave him a kiss.
After Repository City Editor Terry DeMio introduced herself, Traficant turned to her, despite his contentious relationship with the media, and said, “The pleasure is all mine,” and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Bill McCartney, a Holiday Inn bartender, said Traficant has been coming by the bar every Friday night for the last month or so.
“I like him. He’s a nice guy,” he said. “I think he got screwed, to be honest with you. ... He comes. He has a good time. He enjoys himself. Dances.”
Wilkens said “it’s sad” this might be the last Friday night of freedom that Traficant might enjoy for a while. He figures there’s a 50 percent chance the federal judge at Traficant’s sentencing Tuesday for his bribery, tax evasion and corruption charges will not allow him to remain free on bond during his appeal.
“But you haven’t seen the last of Jim Traficant.”
You can reach Repository writer Robert Wang at (330) 580-8327 or e-mail:
There are a lot of us who are waiting for Jim Traficant to write a book about his years in, Congress.
What? Are they worried he will flee to Bimini?
However, we all know the press is all about giving the unwashed masses only the news they want you to know. ;-)
I love him though & can't wait to read the book(hope they make into a movie, Mike Meyers style).
Oh yeah, those were effective. He really cleaned up the government with those one minute speeches. Got rid of Janet Reno, the IRS, the Hostage Rescue Team and Red China, he did.
Another gasbag politician blabbing on and accomplishing nothing except misdirection while accepting bribes.
His speeches were ineffective because whenever someone shines light on corruption in D.C....the press makes sure they get the reputation as a NUT...so everything he eventually says is always peppered with the fact that he is just a, NUT.
Not really. Ohio is the Promise Land for West Virginians, Ohio has jobs.
btw: Why aren't there any West Virginians in heaven?
Highway 77 only goes to Cleveland.
Well, that is something I was not aware of, and I really don't care either way. It's certainly not worth arguing over. You can support whichever gasbag politician you like. :)
As a friendly inquiry, though: In what way did he help his constituents? By seeing to it that they got back some of the money they sent to Washington?
Obviously, someone does not know Traficants political history. He has always been a "renegade."
Take some time and do your own research on the subject.
vanish.
Yeah, something like that...
If I have time later, I will try to find published reports of how Traficant helped his constituents and post them to you.
I'm not sure that I really "support" him...but I am interested in finding out if the subjects in his One Minute Speeches are based on truth and if the issues are REAL...why haven't they been dealt with properly?
There may be a good reason for this. (Although they have both raised legitimate issues at times.)
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