Traficant arrives at local radio station; Vindicator barred from covering his broadcast

YOUNGSTOWN — Ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. arrived at the WKBN AM Radio studios about 9:40 a.m. today. He was driven to the facility by Linda Kovachik, a longtime friend and former Traficant congressional staffer.

Traficant is to host his first local radio show in seven years beginning at 10 a.m. today. The congressman was released from a federal prison Sept. 2 after serving seven years and one month for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.

Bill Kelly, the head of Clear Channel Radio, Youngstown, refused to let a Vindicator reporter and photographer inside the station on South Avenue.

Kelly said that WKBN-TV Channel 27, the, local CBS affiliate, is the only media outlet allowed to watch Traficant host the two-hour show.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com