'I'm Proud of Being an Ex-con, By the Way'

Considering how low the Congressional Democrats have been polling of late, it's not a stretch to think this guy has a decent shot at winning a seat next year. At least while he's been in jail he hasn't been bankrupting our country like his fellow Democrats.

Beam him up, Mr. Speaker!

Former Rep. James Traficant, who was recently released from prison after serving seven years for corruption, said Thursday that he is "proud of being an ex-con" and may try to return to Congress.

Traficant, a Democrat who was elected to nine terms from Youngstown before he was kicked out of the House, said he will circulate nominating petitions in three House districts. He didn't specify which, but the three districts closest to his hometown are all held by Democrats.

He deflected a question on whether he would run next year as a Democrat, Republican or independent, saying that would be decided in time.

Traficant said some supporters have suggested that he run for president. "I have more of a national following than I realize," said Traficant, who didn't rule out a White House run.

He said he will decide on his political plans next month. He discussed his options at a news conference at which he pitched the idea of a Youngstown-area casino run by Native Americans. The required tribal status is pending, he said.

Traficant, in a wide-ranging news conference streamed live in Youngstown, displayed his typical freewheeling style, alleging prosecutorial misconduct in his case, criticizing Ohio for omitting Youngstown from a November ballot issue that approved casinos in four bigger cities, and denouncing an old nemesis, the Internal Revenue Service.

Traficant offered to help anyone facing scrutiny from the IRS and laughed at his self-described role as ex-con ex-congressman. "I'm proud of being an ex-con, by the way," he said.

He was released in September after serving time for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.

Traficant, whose wild hair contributed to an offbeat reputation, was convicted in a raucous trial in 2002 of bribery and racketeering for accepting bribes from businessmen and taking kickbacks from staff members. He then was expelled from Congress, only the second House member since the Civil War to be ousted for unethical conduct.