Tape-Recorded Conversation between James Traficant and Richard Detor (Morford Corruption)

The Business Journal Online ^ | August 30, 2001

[PJ-Comix]

MR. DETOR: I've been threatened with the IRS. They told me that the IRS was immediately going to investigate me and that they were holding the IRS off, and I've been threatened with going and being six weeks in trial. They realize that I would lose my security licenses and I would lose my (UNINTELLIGIBLE) license if their were any kind of a Federal charge if found guilty, which would reasonably come, in all likelihood. And they have called and been on me and tried every threat, and they've gone all through my wife, what kind of salary, why I bought the house I bought, why I drive the kind of car I drive, you know, what my background is. It has just been a nightmare of unbelievable proportions. I really feel that I'm living in Red China.

MR. TRAFICANT: Okay. Let me ask you this. They more or less said to you that they wanted you to lie, didn't they?

MR. DETOR: What they did is when they asked the question, they say, well, this is what you're saying; and they change what you're saying; and you stop and you go, no, that is not what I am saying.

MR. TRAFICANT: They want you to more or less admit to the way they're interpreting it, which would be a lie, wouldn't it?

MR. DETOR: Yes.

MR. TRAFICANT: But they give you the impression that if you more or less accept their version, you'll have no more problems.

MR. DETOR: Give immunity. They won't get the IRS. No questions. No ifs ands or buts. I'm dealing with an attorney named Plato Cacberis, right their in Washington; and I was dealing with one law firm. I said this is not acceptable. This is not the United States. They can't sit there and try to ask me to lie. They can't even suggest it. They told me they subpoenaed all my bank records in the blind and all my IRS stuff. You know, I mean I've listened to one story after another from the Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Q What was his name?

MR. DETOR: Morford.

MR. TRAFICANT: Yeah. He's the one doing the threatening?

MR. DETOR: Yeah.

MR. TRAFICANT: And he basically wants you to lie, and he'll let you alone, won't he?

MR. DETOR: Yes.

And Craig Morford is now being considered for appointment to U.S. Attorney? BEAM ME UP!!!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

If I am not mistaken, threatening a witness with the IRS is a felony, is it not? If so, Ashcroft has a sworn duty to take action on this.

[PJ-Comix]

No. The DOJ is in the process of recommending Morford for PROMOTION.

[Urbane_Guerilla]

This tape "supplied by Mr Traficant" is chock full of self-serving, manipulative baloney, proving exactly nothing.

It is unfortunate that Traficant speaks many political truths, but is a corrupt bottom feeder.

Conservatives should run away from him at least ... if not loudly condemn him.

[Raymond Hendrix]

bump

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Do you realise that all of Traficant's major contributors were audited by the IRS? All I'm asking for is an investigation. I'm not even talking high profile. If nothing vindicates him, ok.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

IF that tape was such baloney, why didn't the 'honorable' members of the hearing allow more witnesses? It looks like a railroad job best I can tell. Don't be surprised if he gets re-elected from jail. Then they can't remove him again, not unless something new happens. It would be quite a fiasco.

[PJ-Comix]

This tape "supplied by Mr Traficant" is chock full of self-serving, manipulative baloney, proving exactly nothing.

Just how did Traficant force Detor to say the following:

MR. DETOR: I've been threatened with the IRS. They told me that the IRS was immediately going to investigate me and that they were holding the IRS off, and I've been threatened with going and being six weeks in trial. They realize that I would lose my security licenses and I would lose my (UNINTELLIGIBLE) license if their were any kind of a Federal charge if found guilty, which would reasonably come, in all likelihood. And they have called and been on me and tried every threat, and they've gone all through my wife, what kind of salary, why I bought the house I bought, why I drive the kind of car I drive, you know, what my background is. It has just been a nightmare of unbelievable proportions. I really feel that I'm living in Red China.

[Lancey Howard]

This tape is as manipulative as any that comes from somebody wearing a wire. That's the whole idea. You want to coax out as much information as you can, so it gets on tape. I don't see where Traficant is asking this guy to lie. Rather I see Traficant trying to get this guy Detor to articulate in his own words as much information as possible. Traficant does ssem to get a little pushy in spots (I can't believe Detor couldn't figure out he was being taped) but that's the nature of the beast.

[an amused spectator]

In a statement, Plato Cacheris said: "We, as counsel for Monica Lewinsky, have reached an agreement today that for her full and truthful testimony she will receive transactional immunity in this case."

[Urbane_Guerilla]

Do you realise that all of Traficant's major contributors were audited by the IRS? All I'm asking for is an investigation. I'm not even talking high profile. If nothing vindicates him, ok.

So what if all his major contributors were audited? That is a separate issue.

Whether his contributors were audited has nothing to do with this tape ... a conversation between two criminals who are eager to exonerate each other under circumstances which bogusly strive to seem "real." Apparently these two con artists have succeeded in fooling some folks.

[PJ-Comix]

Funny how Morford has presented NO PHYSICAL evidence in this case. However, he has presented the testimony of a perjurer known as John Cafaro. So was Cafaro lying before or was he lying now or both times?

[Urbane_Guerilla]

Just how did Traficant force Detor to say the following ... [self serving blather]

Traficant did not need to "force" anything.

These are two criminals helping each other out. It is the most usual thing in the world for criminals to claim they are being railroaded ... the truth of their crimes is very helpful in "railroading" them.

Traficant uses political truths to garner sympathy. In this respect, he has always treated conservatives as chumps.

[PJ-Comix]

Traficant not railroaded? Funny but the husband of the Judge in his case had business dealings with the prosecution's chief witness (Cafaro). Why did the judge not RECUSE herself from the case?

[Urbane_Guerilla]

This tape is as manipulative as any that comes from somebody wearing a wire. That's the whole idea. You want to coax out as much information as you can, so it gets on tape. I don't see where Traficant is asking this guy to lie.

If you notice, Traficant coaxes ZERO from his fellow criminal. It is a criminal love-fest, where they both blame the gov't for their misdeeds ... superficially attractive to conservatives who are rightly sceptical of gov't ... but a load a baloney which should be condemned by conservatives.

[It'salmosttolate]

If this case is appealed and won by JT I suspect Urbane_Guerilla could be be named as an accomplice in that U_G is leaving enough evidence on this post to convict him.

[Urbane_Guerilla]

If this case is appealed and won by JT I suspect Urbane_Guerilla could be be named as an accomplice in that U_G is leaving enough evidence on this post to convict him.

Pardon? Would you care to explain yourself? "Accomplice" to what? And what "evidence"? And convict me of what?

I am curious when someone accuses me of criminal acts.

[Fred Mertz]

MR. DETOR: Give immunity. They won't get the IRS. No questions. No ifs ands or buts. I'm dealing with an attorney named Plato Cacberis, right their [sic] in Washington; and I was dealing with one law firm. I said this is not acceptable....

Plato was Moanica's attorney for awhile if I'm not mistaken.

[Urbane_Guerilla]

I apologize for and amend my previous statements. I have no proof Mr Detor is or was a criminal. My thoughtless mistake.