View source for James Traficant

{{Short description|American politician (1941–2014)}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Traficant|Trafficante (disambiguation){{!}}Trafficante}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Jim Traficant
| image               = James Traficant 105th Congress 1997.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 1997
| state               = [[Ohio]]
| district            = {{ushr|OH|17|r}}
| predecessor         = [[Lyle Williams]]
| successor           = [[Tim Ryan (Ohio politician)|Tim Ryan]]
| term_start          = January 3, 1985
| term_end            = July 24, 2002
| office1             = Sheriff of [[Mahoning County, Ohio|Mahoning County]]
| term_start1         = 1981
| term_end1           = 1984
| predecessor1        = [[George D. Tablack]]
| successor1          = Edward Nemeth
| birth_name          = James Anthony Traficant Jr.
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1941|5|8}}
| birth_place         = [[Youngstown, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_place         = [[Poland, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2014|9|27|1941|5|8}}}}
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (until 2002)
| otherparty          = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (from 2002)
| spouse              = Tish Choppa
| children            = Elizabeth Chahine, Robin O’Grady
| education           = [[University of Pittsburgh]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Master of Science|MS]])<br>[[Youngstown State University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. James Traficant Speaks on the Importance of Water Resource Projects.ogg|title=James Traficant's voice|type=speech|description=Traficant speaks on the importance of water resource projects<br/>Recorded September 26, 1996}}
}}
'''James Anthony Traficant Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|r|æ|f|ɪ|k|ə|n|t}} {{respell|TRAF|ih|kənt}}; May 8, 1941 – September 27, 2014) was an American politician who served as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Ohio]]. A staunch economic [[Populism in the United States|populist]] known for his flamboyant personality,<ref name=":0" /> he represented the {{ushr|OH|17|d}}, which centered on his hometown of [[Youngstown, Ohio|Youngstown]] and included parts of three counties in northeast Ohio's [[Mahoning Valley]].

Traficant was [[Expulsion from the United States Congress|expelled from the House]] on July 24, 2002, after being convicted of 10 [[felony]] counts, including taking bribes, filing false tax returns, [[racketeering]], and forcing his congressional staff to perform chores at his farm in Ohio and houseboat in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Traficant guilty of bribery, racketeering |url=http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/04/11/traficant.trial/ |work=[[CNN.com]] |date=12 April 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021010044342/http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/04/11/traficant.trial/ |archive-date=October 10, 2002}}</ref> He was sentenced to prison and released on September 2, 2009, after serving a 7-year sentence. Traficant died on September 27, 2014, following a tractor accident at his farm in [[Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio|Green Township]], Ohio.

==Early life and education==
Born into a working-class [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] family in [[Youngstown, Ohio]], Traficant was the son of Agnes (''née'' Farkas) and James Anthony Traficant.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jerome |first=Richard |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20137670,00.html |title=To the Bitter End – Crime & Courts |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=2013-03-27 |date=August 5, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101175235/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20137670,00.html |archive-date=November 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VRFJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TYMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3191,5487854&dq=agnes+farkas+traficant&hl=en Mass, Parties Fete Traficants on Anniversary], Youngstown Vindicator, June 15, 1977</ref> He was of mostly Italian and Hungarian ancestry.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MyIoy7F9uEoC&pg=PA221 |title=Buy American: The Untold Story of Economic Nationalism – Dana Frank |via=[[Google Books]] |isbn=9780807047118 |access-date=2013-03-27 |last1=Frank |first1=Dana |year=2000 |publisher=[[Beacon Press]]}}</ref> Traficant graduated from [[Cardinal Mooney High School (Ohio)|Cardinal Mooney High School]] in 1959 before receiving a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in education from the [[University of Pittsburgh]] in 1963. He played [[quarterback]] for Pitt's [[American football|football]] team, and his teammates included [[Mike Ditka]].<ref name="Ditka">{{cite news |author1=Simonich, Milan |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/nation/20020412traf0412p3.asp |title=Rep. James Traficant: 'He's perceived ... to have almost magical powers' |date=12 April 2002 |location=Pittsburgh, PA |access-date=July 10, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714170042/http://old.post-gazette.com/nation/20020412traf0412p3.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Traficant was [[1963 NFL draft|drafted]] in the NFL's twentieth round (276th overall) by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 1963, and tried out for the Steelers and the [[Oakland Raiders]] of the [[American Football League]], but did not play professionally.<ref name="1963Pitt">{{cite news |author1=Snell, Jack |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19630620&id=rn1IAAAAIBAJ&pg=5951,3273704 |title= Steelers Sign all but Four Draft Choices: Pitt's Traficant Still Undecided |date= June 20, 1963}}</ref><ref name="1963Cut">{{cite news |format=UPI|work= Beaver County Times |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19630727&id=88QuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2434,4311310| title=Steelers Cut Jim Traficant | date=July 27, 1963}}</ref> He later obtained an [[Master of Science|M.S.]] in educational administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973 and a second Master's degree in [[counseling]] from [[Youngstown State University]] in 1976.<ref>U.S. Government Printing Office, [https://books.google.com/books?id=TFI16kHFJ-MC&q=traficant+%22university+of+pittsburgh%22+1973 1993–1994 Official Congressional Directory], 1993, page 238</ref>

== Early career ==
At the start of his career, Traficant was the consumer finance director for the Youngstown Community Action Program. He taught courses on drug and alcohol dependency and recovery at Youngstown State University and [[Kent State University]], as well as lecturing on drug and alcohol abuse for colleges and government agencies outside Ohio. In addition, Traficant taught at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.<ref>U.S. Government Printing Office, [https://books.google.com/books?id=zRw5AQAAMAAJ&q=traficant+youngstown+community+action+program Congressional Directory], 1999, page 213</ref> He was the executive director of the Mahoning County Drug Program from 1971 to 1981, and Sheriff of [[Mahoning County]] from 1981 to 1985. While serving as sheriff, Traficant made national headlines by refusing to execute foreclosure orders on several unemployed homeowners. This endeared him to the local population, which was dealing with a declining economy following the closures and relocations of steel making and steel-associated businesses.<ref name="peykonyt">{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E6D81531F93BA15751C0A9649C8B63&st=cse&sq=peyko&scp=1 | first = Mark C | last = Peyko |title = Notes From Youngstown: The Angry Voice of a City Left Behind | work = The New York Times | access-date = 2008-03-24 | date=February 28, 2002}}</ref> Traficant's career in Youngstown served as the focus of ''Crooked City: Youngstown, OH.,'' a podcast produced by [[Marc Smerling]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Youngstown Crime Podcast top ten in the world |url=https://www.wfmj.com/story/46998741/youngstown-crime-podcast-top-ten-in-the-world |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=www.wfmj.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1983, he was charged with racketeering for accepting bribes. Traficant, who represented himself in the criminal trial, argued that he accepted the bribes only as part of his own alleged secret undercover investigation into corruption. Traficant was acquitted of the charges, becoming the only person ever to win a [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] (RICO) case while representing himself.<ref>Scott A. Frisch, Sean Q. Kelly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QA1Mx_51nbUC&dq=traficant+sheriff+acquitted+fbi&pg=PA170 Committee Assignment Politics in the U.S. House of Representatives], 2006, page 170</ref><ref>Congressional Quarterly, Traficant Responds Defiantly to Corruption Indictment, Volume 59, 2001, page 989</ref>

Publicity from the RICO trial increased Traficant's local visibility. He was elected in 1984 as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] to Congress from Ohio's 17th District, defeating [[Lyle Williams]], a three-term [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent. He was [[Ohio's 17th congressional district|reelected eight times]] without serious opposition.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

==U.S. House of Representatives==
Traficant was infamous during his time in Congress for his short, rambling, and often crude rants on the House floor, often decrying his key issues such as his opposition to free trade and the IRS. He usually ended his speeches with the phrase "[[Beam me up, Scotty|beam me up]]", a ''[[Star Trek]]'' reference. He also became known for his flamboyant fashion sense—including cowboy boots and polyester suits—and his toupee.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Schudel |first=Matt |date=2014-09-27 |title=James A. Traficant Jr., Ohio congressman convicted of corruption and expelled from the House, dies at 73 |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/james-a-traficant-jr-colorful-ohio-congressman-expelled-by-house-dies-at-73/2014/09/27/fa98868a-4431-11e4-9a15-137aa0153527_story.html |access-date=2023-03-14 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-27 |title=Convicted ex-congressman James Traficant dies at 73 |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/convicted-ex-congressman-james-traficant-dies-73 |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}</ref>

While in Congress, Traficant was a supporter of [[Immigration reduction in the United States|immigration reduction]].<ref>"[http://profiles.numbersusa.com/improfile.php3?DistSend=OH&VIPID=647 All Immigration Votes of Representative James Traficant]." [[NumbersUSA]]. Accessed January 6, 2008.</ref> Traficant's major legislative accomplishment in the House was the adoption of some of his proposals to constrain enforcement activities by the [[Internal Revenue Service]] against delinquent taxpayers. Traficant was also known for frequently pushing to include "[[Made in USA|Buy American]]" provisions in spending bills.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillispie |first=Mark |date=2014-09-27 |title=James Traficant, convicted ex-congressman, dies |url=https://apnews.com/article/f315f61acc66463389a5a259dcc21328 |access-date=2023-03-14 |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

After the Republicans took control of the House in 1995, Traficant tended to vote more often with the Republicans than with his own party. On the issue of abortion, Traficant voted with the position of the [[National Right to Life Committee]] 95% of the time in the 105th Congress, and 100% of the time in the 106th and 107th Congresses. However, he voted against all four articles of impeachment against [[Bill Clinton]]. After he voted for Republican [[Dennis Hastert]] for [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] in 2001, the Democrats stripped him of his seniority and refused to give him any committee assignments. Because the Republicans did not assign him to any committees either, Traficant became the first member of the House of Representatives in over a century (outside the top leadership) to lack a single committee assignment.<ref>{{cite news |first=Katherine |last=Rizzo |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/050801/upd_075-2220.shtml |title=Armey: GOP doesn't want Traficant |newspaper=[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]] |date=2001-05-08 |access-date=2013-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727001151/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/050801/upd_075-2220.shtml |archive-date=2015-07-27}}</ref>

Traficant twice<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120303004204/https://www.skeptictank.org/kramer.htm Rice, Fredric, "Iron Butterfly Member Disappears After Allegedly Working on Faster-Than-Light Communication - Is He In A Godda Da Vida?", Skeptic Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 2, 1996.]</ref> asked the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] to investigate the missing persons case of [[Philip Taylor Kramer]], whose family he knew.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/10/06/far-out/e7bfbaa7-8f9a-4cec-88dc-45d6d2d03f3d/ |last=Lei |first=Richard |title=Far Out |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 6, 1996}}</ref> The FBI opened a case, but did not launch a new criminal investigation, although it did assist the Ventura County sheriff's office in the matter. Traficant's office also did some investigation of its own.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-18-mn-29934-story.html |last=Reed |first=Mack |title=Missing Man's Family Keeps Up Search Despite 2-Year Mystery |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 18, 1997}}</ref>

===Defense of John Demjanjuk===
Traficant championed the unpopular case of [[John Demjanjuk]], a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]]-born autoworker from [[Seven Hills, Ohio|Seven Hills]] who had been convicted in [[Israel]] and sentenced to hang for having been the brutal [[Nazi]] [[concentration camp]] guard nicknamed "[[Ivan the Terrible (Treblinka guard)|Ivan the Terrible]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://jta.org/news/article/2009/10/30/1008850/traficant-says-he-will-testify-for-demjanjuk |title=Traficant says he would testify for Demjanjuk |work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=October 30, 2009 |access-date=October 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415083224/http://jta.org/news/article/2009/10/30/1008850/traficant-says-he-will-testify-for-demjanjuk |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> For almost a decade, Traficant, along with [[Pat Buchanan]],<ref>Buchanan, Pat (2011-05-13) [http://www.amconmag.com/blog/2011/05/12/demjanjuk-convicted-by-the-kgb/ Demjanjuk Convicted – By the KGB], ''[[The American Conservative]]''</ref> insisted that Demjanjuk had been denied a fair trial, and been the victim of mistaken identity. In 1993, the [[Supreme Court of Israel]] overturned the conviction on the basis of [[reasonable doubt]]. Demjanjuk was later deported to Germany on May 11, 2009, after the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] refused to overturn his deportation order. Demjanjuk was tried and convicted by a German criminal court of being an accessory to murder, but died before the German [[appellate court]] could hear his case, thereby voiding the conviction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aderet |first=Ofer |title=News article: Convicted Nazi criminal Demjanjuk deemed innocent in Germany over technicality |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=March 23, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2012 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2012-03-23/ty-article/convicted-nazi-criminal-demjanjuk-deemed-innocent-in-germany-over-technicality/0000017f-db6c-db5a-a57f-db6e417c0000}}</ref>

===Defense of Arthur Rudolph===
Following Buchanan's recommendation to reconsider the [[denaturalization]] of former Nazi and [[NASA]] scientist [[Arthur Rudolph]], who had been brought to the United States as part of [[Operation Paperclip]], Traficant spoke to the Friends of Arthur Rudolph, an organization based in [[Huntsville, Alabama]].<ref name="moniquegerman173">{{cite book |last=Laney |first=Monique |date=2015 |title=German Rocketeers in the Heart of Dixie: Making Sense of the Nazi Past During the Civil Rights Era  |location=New Haven and London |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |pages=173–174 |isbn=978-0-300-19803-4}}</ref> He argued that denaturalization had happened because of a "powerful Jewish lobby" influencing Congress.<ref name="moniquegerman173"/> He added that it was a violation of a U.S. citizen's civil rights, and he suggested that Rudolph return to the United States nonetheless.<ref name="moniquegerman173"/> Additionally, he "introduced a resolution in Congress [...] calling for an investigation into the [[Office of Scientific Intelligence|OSI]]'s handling of Rudolph's case."<ref name="moniquegerman173"/> Meanwhile, in 1990, Traficant had planned to meet Rudolph at [[Niagara Falls]], on the Canadian–American border, but Rudolph was arrested by immigration officials in [[Toronto]], and the meeting never occurred.<ref name="moniquegerman173"/>

===Trial and expulsion===
On May 4, 2001, Traficant was indicted on federal corruption charges for taking campaign funds for personal use.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Eggen |first1=Dan |last2=Eilperin |first2=Juliet |date=May 5, 2001 |title=U.S. Grand Jury Indicts Traficant |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/05/05/us-grand-jury-indicts-traficant/528bc43e-523c-4a7a-9a5f-59578490dfa7/ |access-date=December 1, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Again, he opted to represent himself, insisting that the trial was part of a vendetta against him dating back to his 1983 trial. After a two-month federal trial, on April 11, 2002, he was convicted of ten [[felony]] counts including bribery, racketeering, and [[tax evasion]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2002/04/11/Traficant-convicted/61671018567615/ |first=Jonathan Jay |last=Gibian |title=Traficant convicted |work=[[United Press International]] |date=April 11, 2002}}</ref>

On July 30, 2002, U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells sentenced Traficant to eight years in prison and fined him $150,000 following his conviction on 10 counts of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/politics-july-dec02-traficant_07-30 |title=Former Ohio Congressman Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison |date=July 30, 2002 |work=[[PBS NewsHour]]}}</ref>

Eventually, the House Ethics Committee recommended that Traficant be expelled from Congress. On July 24, the House voted to expel him with 420 members voting yes, 1 member voting no, 9 members voting 'present', and 4 members not voting.<ref>{{cite web|title=In the Matter of Representative James A. Traficant Jr.|url=https://ethics.house.gov/committee-report/matter-representative-james-traficant-jr|work=U.S. House of Representatives|date=24 July 2002|format=REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725041336/https://ethics.house.gov/committee-report/matter-representative-james-traficant-jr|url-status=dead}}</ref> The sole vote against expulsion was Representative [[Gary Condit]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll346.xml |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 346 |last=Trandahl |first=Jeff |date=July 24, 2002 |work=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] |access-date=March 22, 2012}}</ref> Traficant was the first person to be expelled from the House of Representatives since [[Michael Myers (Pennsylvania politician)|Michael Myers]] who was expelled in 1980 as a result of the [[Abscam]] scandal.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/house-votes-to-expel-a-lawmaker-july-24-2002-109289 |title=House expels fellow lawmaker, July 24, 2002 |work=[[Politico]] |last=Glass |first=Andrew |date=July 24, 2014}}</ref>

After his expulsion, Traficant ran as an independent candidate for another term in the House while incarcerated at the [[United States Penitentiary, Allenwood]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/08/05/traficant.prison/|title=Traficant arrives at federal prison|date=2002-08-06|publisher=CNN|access-date=2009-11-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010204322/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/08/05/traficant.prison/|archive-date=October 10, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He received 28,045 votes, or 15 percent. Traficant was one of only a few people in U.S. history to seek federal office while incarcerated. [[Tim Ryan (Ohio politician)|Tim Ryan]], a former aide to Traficant, won the election.<ref name="auto" />

== Prison and later life ==

=== Incarceration ===
Traficant entered the [[Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood Low]], on August 6, 2002,<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/08/05/traficant.prison/index.html |title=Traficant arrives at federal prison
|publisher=[[CNN]] |date=August 6, 2002 |access-date=2018-07-08}}</ref> with the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] ID # 31213-060.<ref name="TraficantBOP">"[http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=James&Middle=&LastName=Traficant&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 JAMES A TRAFICANT JR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727134313/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=traficant&Middle=&FirstName=james&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 |date=July 27, 2010}}." [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]. Retrieved on May 29, 2010.</ref> He served his first seventeen months at Allenwood. He claimed that he was put in [[solitary confinement]] shortly after his arrival for incitement to riot after he told a guard, "People can't hear you. Speak up."<ref name="Van Susteren">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/exclusive-traficant-i-was-a-target-i-must-have-been-doing-something-right|title=Exclusive: Traficant – 'I Was a Target. ... I Must Have Been Doing Something Right'|last=Van Susteren|first=Greta|date=2009-09-10|publisher=Fox News|access-date=2009-11-13}}</ref> During the seven years of his incarceration, Traficant refused any visitors, saying that he did not want anyone to see him. He was released on September 2, 2009, at age 68, and was subject to three years of [[supervised release]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20090903/NEWS/309039846 |title=Ex-congressman Traficant freed |last=Merchant |first=Norman |date=September 2, 2009 |access-date= September 29, 2009 |agency=Associated Press |work=Canton Rep}}</ref>

While in prison, Traficant received support from [[neo-Nazi]] [[David Duke]], who urged visitors to his personal website to donate to his personal fund. Duke posted a letter written by Traficant stating that he was targeted by the [[United States Department of Justice]] for, among other things, defending [[John Demjanjuk]]. Traficant also claimed, in the letter, that he knew facts about "[[Waco siege|Waco]], [[Ruby Ridge]], [[Pan Am Flight 103]], [[Jimmy Hoffa]] and the [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|John F. Kennedy assassination]]", which he may divulge in the future. Author [[Michael Collins Piper]], who wrote ''Target: Traficant, The Untold Story''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Piper |first1=Michael |author-link=Michael Collins Piper |title=Target: Traficant: the outrageous inside story of how the Justice Department, the Israeli lobby and the American mass media conspired to set up and take down Congressman Jim Traficant |location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=[[American Free Press]] |year=2005 |isbn=0981808611}} {{ISBN|978-0981808611}}</ref> and initially helped circulate Traficant's letter, said that "There's stuff I've written about Traficant that's showing up in places I don't even know. It's like (six) degrees of separation with the Internet now," and denied that Traficant had any direct connections to Duke.<ref name="davidduke">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/526652.html?nav=5021|title=White nationalists, conspiracy theorists join Traficant's cause|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901054106/http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/526652.html?nav=5021|first=Bill|last=Rodgers|date=August 30, 2009|work=[[Tribune Chronicle]]|archive-date=September 1, 2009|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref>

=== Release ===
Traficant was released from prison on September 2, 2009.<ref name="TraficantBOP"/> On September 6, 2009, 1,200 supporters welcomed him home at a banquet with an [[Elvis impersonator]], and a Traficant lookalike contest. "Welcome home Jimbo" was printed on T-shirts. "I think it's time to tell the FBI and the IRS that this is our country and we're tired—tired of the pressure, tired of the political targeting, tired of a powerful central government that is crippling America," he said. He also said he was considering running for his old seat in Congress. Traficant signed a limited, three-month contract to work as a part-time weekend [[talk radio]] host for [[Cleveland]] news/talk station [[WTAM]] in January 2010. His contract permitted him to quit if he chose to run for office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jan/05/traficant-lands-a-part-time-job-on-radio/?newswatch |title=Traficant lands a part-time job on radio |work=The Vindicator |date=January 5, 2010 |access-date=March 27, 2013 |location=Youngstown, Ohio |archive-date=May 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530080634/http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jan/05/traficant-lands-a-part-time-job-on-radio/?newswatch |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 2, 2009, a column by Traficant in the ''[[American Free Press]]'' continued his defense of the accused concentration camp guard John Demjanjuk.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/jim_traficant_writes_afp_column.htm |title=Former Congressman Traficant to Contribute Column to Anti-Semitic Newspaper |website=[[Anti-Defamation League]] |date=November 2, 2009 |access-date=October 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212023621/http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/jim_traficant_writes_afp_column.htm |archive-date=February 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2010 congressional campaign ===
In September 2010, Traficant was certified to run for the same seat he held before his expulsion, and said that his platform would be to repeal the [[Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution]].<ref name="sixteenth">{{cite news|url=http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/92681999.html|title=Traficant files petitions to be candidate for Akron congressional district|work= Akron Beacon Journal|date=May 3, 2010| archive-url=https://archive.today/20110615134457/http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/92681999.html|archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> Traficant lost the election to his former aide, [[Tim Ryan (Ohio politician)|Tim Ryan]],<ref name="2010-election">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/07/us/the-2002-elections-midwest-ohio.html|title=The 2002 Elections: Midwest; Ohio|date=2002-11-07|work=The New York Times|access-date=2013-05-20 | first1=Nichole M. | last1=Christian | first2=John H. | last2=Cushman Jr | first3=Sherri | last3=Day | first4=Sam | last4=Dillon | first5=Neil A. | last5=Lewis | first6=Robert | last6=Pear | first7=Terry | last7=Pristin | first8=Philip | last8=Shenon | first9=Jacques | last9=Steinberg <!--exactly 9 authors-->}}</ref> to whom he lost an earlier race in 2002.<ref name="auto" /> Traficant received 30,556 votes, or 16%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/election-results-and-data/2010-elections-results/representative-to-congress-november-2-2010/ |title=REPRESENTATIVE TO CONGRESS - NOVEMBER 2, 2010 - Amended Official Results |website=Ohio Secretary of State |access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>

== Post-prison life ==
After his release from prison, Traficant was featured as a guest speaker at a [[Tea Party protests|Tea Party protest]] in [[Columbiana, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Dan |url=https://archive.businessjournaldaily.com/traficant-draws-cheers-tea-party-2009-9-1 |title=Traficant Draws Cheers at TEA Party |website=Business Journal Daily |access-date=February 2, 2024 |location=[[Youngstown, Ohio]] |date=September 1, 2009}}</ref>

Traficant began a grassroots campaign in July 2014, Project Freedom USA,<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.projectfreedomusa.org/ |website=Project Freedom USA |access-date=September 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829204937/https://www.projectfreedomusa.org/ |archive-date=August 29, 2014}}</ref>{{better source|date=March 2024}} to, among other things, put pressure on Congress to get rid of the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] and "divorce" the [[Federal Reserve]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuCeTfo-cac|title=Traficant launches Project Freedom|website=YouTube|access-date=September 28, 2014}}{{cbignore}} Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/nuCeTfo-cac Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140407070656/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuCeTfo-cac&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}</ref>{{better source|date=March 2024}} He continued to live on the farm that he had purchased in 1987.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Mike |last=Gauntner |title=Traficant farmhouse being demolished in Greenford |url=https://www.wfmj.com/story/49779287/traficant-farmhouse-being-demolished-in-greenford |access-date=2023-11-20 |date=October 5, 2023 |work=[[WFMJ-TV]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Accident and death==
Traficant was injured in an accident at his farm in [[Greenford, Ohio]], on September 23, 2014. A tractor he was driving into a [[Pole building framing|pole barn]] flipped over and trapped him underneath. Traficant was taken to Salem Regional Medical Center in [[Salem, Ohio]], then airlifted to St. Elizabeth's Health Center in Youngstown. On the evening of September 24, his wife described him as "sedated and not doing well".<ref>{{cite news |first= Sabina |last= Eaton |title= Ex. Rep. Jim Traficant is seriously injured in tractor accident |work= Cleveland Plain Dealer |date= September 24, 2014 |access-date= September 25, 2014 |url= http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/09/ex_rep_jim_traficant_reported.html}}</ref>

A text message was sent out Friday evening September 26 by Jim Condit Jr., the Constitution Party candidate for Ohio's 8th congressional district and a close friend who had been traveling with Traficant to help promote Project Freedom USA. The text message stated that "the machines were disconnected at 2:00 p.m. (Friday). He is still breathing. Thousands are praying." On September 27, 2014, Traficant died at a hospice in [[Poland, Ohio]], aged 73.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-traficant-20140928-story.html|title=James Traficant obituary: Colorful, expelled and jailed ex-congressman dies |date=September 27, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wfmj.com/story/26643168/james-a-traficant-jr-dead-at-age-73 |title=James A. Traficant Jr. dead at age 73 |publisher=[[WFMJ-TV]] |date=September 27, 2014 |access-date=September 27, 2014}}</ref> By September 29, Traficant's body had been buried in an undisclosed location after the family had a private funeral, and announced that there would be no public funeral for him.<ref>[http://www.wfmj.com/story/26650681/no-public-funeral-for-jim-traficant No public funeral for Jim Traficant] [[WFMJ-TV]] (09/29/2014)</ref>

A subsequent medical investigation determined that Traficant had not had a heart attack or seizure before the accident, and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In addition, he had not sustained any crushing injuries in the accident. The forensic pathologist who conducted the examination attributed Traficant's death to [[positional asphyxiation]], stating that he had been unable to breathe because of the weight of the tractor on top of him.<ref name="cleveland.com">{{cite news |title=Former Rep. Traficant didn't have heart attack, seizure before tractor death, pathologist says |url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/09/former_rep_traficant_didnt_have_heart_attack_seizure.html |work=The Plain Dealer |format=Associated Press |date=September 30, 2014}}</ref>

== Publications ==
* {{cite book | last = Piper | first = Michael Collins | title = Target: Traficant, The Untold Story | publisher = American Free Press | year = 2005 | isbn = 978-0981808611}}
* {{cite book | last = Traficant | first = James | title = America's Last Minuteman | publisher = Sports Calendar International | location = New York | year = 2011 | isbn = 978-1-889036-01-4}}

==See also==
* [[List of United States representatives from Ohio]]
* [[List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded]]
* [[List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes]]
* [[List of federal political scandals in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q465728|c=Category:James Traficant|q=James Traficant|wikt=no|s=Author:James Anthony Traficant|n=no|b=no|f=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|v=no|voy=no}}
{{CongLinks|congbio=T000350}}
* {{C-SPAN|3490}}
* [http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/08/01/congress.traficant "Look at what Traficant swept under the rug"] – [[CNN]], August 1, 2002
* [http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675034000_football-match_Pittsburgh-Panthers_Pitt-Scuttles-of-Navy_spectators-watch-the-match Traficant quarterbacking Pitt over Navy]
* Official Website by Nicky Nelson & Jim Condit Jr., [http://www.projectfreedomusa.org/ Project Freedom USA]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IV48Hf9YbY James Traficant - A Tribute] (Video) by Mike Wayne

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{{s-bef|before=[[Lyle Williams]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Ohio|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Ohio's 17th congressional district]]|years=1985–2002}}
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