People who were railroaded have empathy for Traficant

People who were railroaded have empathy for Traficant

EDITOR:

Any of you Jim Traficant bashers ever wonder why there are so many followers who still believe in him? Maybe, like me, they’re sick of the status quo. And maybe he was wrongfully convicted. If you don’t think that corruption exists in government or in the courtroom, think again. I’ve seen it first hand.

I was forced to retire from Republic Technologies International due to a plant shutdown. PBGC took us to court because they didn’t want us to pay pensions to people with under 30 years service. After Judge Economus ruled in our favor, they were forced to start paying. They appealed, we were denied our pensions, and they want their money back. I thought they were supposed to take over pensions, not deny them.

My co-workers in Beaver Falls, Pa., and I also have a lawsuit going on against our international union since 2005 for various claims of misrepresentation. If someone would just look at the overwhelming evidence we have, I can’t see how we could lose. But last year a judge ruled against us because of time limits. Why couldn’t he do that way back when we first filed? Sounds fishy to me. All we want is to get a fair trial. We’re appealing.

So I think it’s very possible Traficant was railroaded. Congress doesn’t like rabble rousers.

JACK THOMAS

Struthers