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CNN Live Today

Traficant Booted From House

Aired July 25, 2002 - 10:07   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: An Ohio congressman, James Traficant, spent almost two decades thumbing his nose at the government, and nearly an hour last night pointing his finger at it. Traficant spent his final time in office appealing to House colleagues to not expel him, and arguing that the government wrongfully prosecuted him on corruption charges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES TRAFICANT, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: I'll go to jail, but I'll be damned if I'll be pressured by a government that pressured these witnesses to death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Well, CNN congressional correspondent, Kate Snow, joins us now from Capitol Hill, where Traficant's fate was sealed last night.

And, Kate, I have a feeling they may somehow, someway end up missing this man.

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think some people might miss him around here. I mean, in all truth, a lot of people were very sad, Leon, about what happened last night.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert started things out last night by admonishing members, all of them, not to use profane language, not to be too vulgar, but you could sort of tell who that was directed at.

And it was interesting. Traficant didn't do a lot of his usual theatrics. He did not really go over the top. He was much more subdued, much more tame. He wanted the members to understand his case. Many of those members had waited in line to be able to get into the Chamber last night. It was a packed House, and they sat there stone-silent as they listened to him, deciding the fate of one of their own.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. JAMES TRAFICANT (D), OHIO: Am I scared to death? No. I'll go to jail before I'll resign and admit to something I didn't do.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He proclaimed his innocence until he was hoarse, subdued at times, then passionate, irate, Traficant denied he took bribes, kickbacks or forced aides to work on his horse farm.

TRAFICANT: I'll go to jail, but I'll be damned if I'll be pressured by a government that pressured these witnesses to death.

SNOW: In rambling remarks, Traficant argued government prosecutors forced witnesses to testify during his trial and had no physical evidence of a crime.

TRAFICANT: The prosecutor says your honor, we have no fingerprints of the defendant, 1,000 documents.

SNOW: But again and again, members of the House Ethics Committee refuted Traficant's claims. A jury had convicted him in April. The committee's own investigation found him guilty, as well.

REP. KENNY HULSHOF (R), MISSOURI: Mr. Traficant protests that he is the victim of selective prosecution, indeed, of government misconduct. But in order to believe his assertions, you would have to accept the gentleman's notion of a vast, unparalleled conspiracy involving not only the self-interested and disreputable characters from Youngstown, but also involving the office of the U.S. Attorney, the IRS, the FBI and a respected U.S. district judge.

SNOW: The members talked about duty, about policing their own. Many said expelling a colleague was something they wished they didn't have to do. The congressman, known for his colorful antics, kept the jokes to a minimum.

TRAFICANT: What's happened to us, Congress? Am I different? Yes. Have I changed my pants? No. Deep down you know you want to wear wider bottoms, you're just not secure enough to do it. Do I do my hair with a weed whacker? I admit. But take into consideration what you're doing.

SNOW: Traficant said he knew he'd be expelled, but like any true politician he asked for his colleagues' votes. In the end, only one member voted against expulsion, Congressman Gary Condit.

(on camera): Traficant is only the second congressman since the Civil War to be expelled from the U.S. House. But if he has his way, he'll be back. Next week, Traficant will be sentenced to prison, but he says he's running for Congress even if it's from behind bars.

Kate Snow, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Now, Traficant is only the second member of the House to be expelled since the Civil War. But if he has his way, Leon, he may be back. He is already talking about running for Congress again, even if it's from jail. He is sentenced -- his sentencing hearing is scheduled for next week -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thanks, Kate -- Kate Snow on Capitol Hill this morning.

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