Traficant leaving Dems, mulls independent run

February 21, 2010 at 12:03a.m.

CLEVELAND (AP) — A former Ohio congressman who served seven years in prison for corruption said Saturday that he’s leaving the Democratic Party and considering a run for office as an independent.

James Traficant made the announcement on his afternoon talk show on WTAM-AM in Cleveland. He did not specify which seat he was eyeing for a run.

“I think America needs a third party,” he said. “The Republican and Democratic parties, in my opinion, have failed America. All they’re doing is tinkering with a bad system.

“So the bottom line is I guess I am a true independent and will run as an independent.”

Traficant, 68, was elected to nine terms as a Democrat from Youngstown before serving time for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion. He was released from federal prison in September.

Traficant’s comments came two days after he missed the deadline to run in Ohio’s congressional Democratic primary, despite his warnings for weeks that he may try to unseat one of the Democrats representing the economically struggling Youngstown area.

He has until May to decide if he will seek a Congressional seat as an independent.

Spokesman Dennis Malloy had referred the media to Traficant’s show for information about the former congressman’s plan. He said Traficant has not filed to run for any political seats.

“I guess I’ll see where I have a chance as an independent,” Traficant said on his show. “The Democrat party is the problem as is the Republican Party, so whether I win or lose I’m going to challenge that system,” he said.

He called it a “painful decision” to leave the Democratic Party but that he’d be a hypocrite to have filed as a Democrat when he feels the leadership of the party is headed in the wrong direction.

He said he was not referring to President Barack Obama — saying the president has his hands tied — but to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Traficant said he has no money and no campaign committee.

“I never had a whole lot of support from any institutions or any groups, but it will be a hell of a fight and a hell of a struggle,” he said.

Traficant closed his speculation about running for office saying, “Jim Traficant is already bringing you money into this impoverished area” and anticipating that federal money would soon start flowing into northeast Ohio.

“The federal government is going to start pumping money back here, because they don’t want Jim Traficant on the House floor ... to tell the truth about what’s happening in this Godforsaken land.”