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CNN Live Today

House to Debate Traficant's Future

Aired July 24, 2002 - 12:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This evening, the House will debate whether convicted Ohio Democrat, James Traficant, should be removed from Congress. And the embattled, outspoken congressman will have one last chance to plead his case.

For more now, we turn to CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow.

Kate -- quite a character.

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, quite a character.

And just when you thought this story couldn't get any weirder, and we knew exactly what was going to happen tonight, I have a little piece of information for you, which is that one of his friends, Representative Steve LaTourette, who is a Republican from Ohio, a good friend of Traficant, is planning tonight to bring a motion to put all of this off again until September 4, after they return from their August recess.

That, after a juror in Ohio, who had served on the criminal trial jury for Traficant and convicted him, came forward over the weekend and said he had some doubts now, because of some testimony that he had heard.

But that said, Republicans and Democrats, leadership anyway, do feel inclined to move forward on this. I am told that they still plan to push ahead.

Jim Traficant will be given half an hour to speak, although I am told that he may ask for more time. We expect him to do, as he did last week, stand up and speak on behalf of himself. A spokesman says expect him to talk about flaws in the government's case.

In his colorful way, Traficant insists that he is not guilty, even though a jury found that he did take bribes, that he took kickbacks from some of his staff, that he forced some of his other staff to work on his houseboat here in Washington and on his horse farm in Ohio. Traficant spoke about his style and his future with Connie Chung.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. JAMES TRAFICANT (D), OHIO: I jack a lot of reporters around quite frankly, because many of these reporters basically put me down in the paper, try and make fun of me. And you know what? I treat them about the same way.

But I am being very serious now when I make this point: Why should an American have to fear their government? Well, Jim Traficant is saying, you don't have to. And I'll tell you what. I am going to lead that charge, and I'm going to change that, whether I'm in jail or not.

Now, about the election...

CONNIE CHUNG, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.

TRAFICANT: ... I am running. And I wouldn't surprised if I am elected from a jail cell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Traficant is on the ballot as an independent candidate, though I can tell you, Kyra, political watchers don't think he really has much of a chance to win. He will also likely go to jail. His sentencing is next week.

And, Kyra, one serious note, this is a dubious distinction that he would receive tonight if he is kicked out of the House. He would only be the second congressman ever since the Civil War to be expelled from the U.S. House -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kate, could he be elected from a jail cell?

SNOW: Apparently, technically, he could be. We have checked on that. But the likelihood of it, as I say, political watchers say he'll probably draw some votes away from the other two candidates, but not likely that he'll win.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kate Snow on the Hill -- thanks, Kate.

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