Traficant Trial Winding Down

Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. abused his public office by accepting bribes and favors, a federal prosecutor said Monday during closing arguments in the congressman's bribery trial.

Traficant may have been an effective congressman, but he is not above the law, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Morford told the jury.

"He can't use his public office as a trough to feed his personal appetite," Morford said.

Traficant, who has been defending himself even though he is not a lawyer, was to follow with his own closing argument. The case was expected to go to the jury during the afternoon, following nine weeks of testimony by 85 witnesses and occasional courtroom outbursts.

Traficant, 60, is accused of taking kickbacks from staff members and accepting gifts and free labor from businessmen in exchange for his political help. He also allegedly filed false tax returns.

The nine-term congressman faces up to 63 years in prison if convicted on all 10 counts. However, he would likely receive a much shorter term under federal sentencing guidelines.

Morford disputed Traficant's claim that there is no physical evidence in the case. He showed jurors six binders of evidence, including a bundle of cash and a scorched envelope from Allen Sinclair, a former Traficant staff member.

Sinclair testified that he kicked back $2,500 from each of his congressional paychecks. When Traficant found out he was being investigated, Sinclair testified, the congressman returned piles of cash and the envelopes in which the cash was delivered. He said Traficant told him to burn the envelopes.

"There is no legitimate way to counter the evidence," Morford said, describing a long list of bribes, gifts and favors that Traficant is accused of taking.

Traficant, known for arm-waving House speeches against the IRS and FBI, rested his case Friday without taking the stand. His defense lasted two weeks and involved 30 witnesses.

During the trial, Traficant got in shouting matches with U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells, threw a box of documents off his table and insulted prosecutors by saying "they have the testicles of an ant."

It's not the first time he has defended himself at trial. Traficant did the same in a federal racketeering case in 1983 as Mahoning County sheriff, convincing a jury that money he took from the mob was part of a sting operation he was running to bust organized crime. That victory helped propel him to the House in 1984.

But recently he has been exiled by House Democrats for voting with Republicans to elect House Speaker Dennis Hastert and is the only member of Congress without a committee assignment.

His district was eliminated this year, and he has said he will run for re-election as an independent in a neighboring district.

By Paul Singer