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Will Traficant’s address change Monday?
The Trumbull County Democratic Party chairman said the former congressman was ‘railroaded.’
If ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. is to be moved from a federal prison medical facility in Minnesota to a halfway house, Monday would be the first day it could happen.
Traficant, 67, rejected an offer in December to move to the Community Corrections Association’s halfway house on Market Street in Youngstown. That move would have taken place Monday.
Through his caseworker at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minn., the former congressman had requested placement at a facility in Akron or Cleveland.
Mike Deal of the Federal Bureau of Prisons said he could neither confirm nor deny Traficant’s potential move. He said he’s only permitted to comment on the current location of a federal inmate.
Convicted in 2002 of 10 counts, including bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion, Traficant’s prison term is up Sept. 2.
The bureau typically sends nonviolent prisoners to a halfway facility about six months before their release date. While at such a facility, an inmate must find employment and is usually given time to be with family.
Once Traficant’s sentence expires, he’ll be welcomed back to the Valley with open arms, said two local Democratic Party chairmen.
“He’s very well-liked, and he’s got a base [of supporters] here,” said Christ Michelakis, Trumbull County Democratic Party chairman. “I think he got railroaded. He was a good congressman, and he helped us a lot.”
Columbiana County Democratic Chairman Dennis Johnson, who worked 21‚Ñ2 years for Traficant when he served in the U.S. House, said, “So many people have a lot of good memories of him. I think he’ll be well-received. He and I were friends for a long time.”
When asked about Traficant’s conviction, Johnson said, “People have done an awful lot worse and got a lot less time” in prison.
Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini said Traficant’s illegal conduct “was, unfortunately, a black eye to our community. It was a black eye years ago, and I hope it’s behind us. We need to move forward and talk about the economy and what we can do to advance the community.”
A nine-term congressman, Traficant was known for his circa-1970s suits, bad hair [it was a toupee], tough-guy persona and one-minute speeches on the House floor critical of trade with China, ex-Attorney General Janet Reno, and various conspiracies he claimed the government covered up. He often used the phrase “Beam me up” from “Star Trek” in the speeches.
skolnick@vindy.com