It’s official: Traficant will attend dinner in his honor today

BOARDMAN — Former U.S. Rep. James Traficant will attend and speak at an appreciation dinner in his honor late this afternoon, organizers of the event confirmed today.

Traficant was to appear at the dinner at Mr. Anthony’s banquet hall in Boardman. at 5:20 p.m., the organizers said.

A 14-minute video tribute was also planned of the former U.S. representative from the Mahoning Valley who served more than seven years in prison on ten felony convictions.

It would present highlights of his political career, they said.

The event today was sold out with all 1,200 tickets purchased.

Dinner guests started lining up for the event about 2 p.m. and snaked around the property in front of Mr. Anthony’s

The doors opened at 2:30 p.m. with those attending having to go through a metal detector.

Watch for updates later today on Vindy.com, and read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.