Former Congressman Jim Traficant died Saturday after a tractor he was riding flipped over on his family farm. The fiery and colorful Democrat from Youngstown, Ohio, is one of only four members ever to be kicked out of Congress. That was in 2002, after he was convicted of bribery and racketeering.
Before he was convicted and expelled from Congress, Jim Traficant was best known for his improbable hair piece and his outlandish suits. And the broadsides he launched at Republicans, his fellow Democrats and big government.
“No. 1, big farm animals produce more manure than small farm animals," Traficant told one audience [on the subject of government spending.] "And No. 2, manure stinks. Beam me up, Mr. Speaker: $200 million to determine that manure stinks.”
In the early ‘80s, while he was county sheriff, he was caught taking money from mobsters. He convinced a jury he was just gathering evidence—and was acquitted.
Link to WKSU's full report here.
