> Wasn't nutball Traficant under investigation by the FBI or the DOJ?
> Michael Pugliese
Yes, that nutball scumbag is.
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October 26, 2000 Traficant Slams Timing Of Plea
By Damon Chappie
An Ohio contractor admitted Tuesday that he lied and attempted to obstruct a criminal investigation of Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio).
The guilty pleas by Arthur David Sugar represent a major development in the corruption probe into gifts and services allegedly accepted by Traficant as federal prosecutors press forward with their crackdown on organized crime in Youngstown, Ohio.
Sugar, 51, pleaded guilty to one count each of perjury, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. He could face up to 25 years in prison and fines totaling $750,000 when he is sentenced in January.
The extent of his cooperation with prosecutors in exchange for the guilty pleas was unclear. The judge sealed his plea bargain agreement as well as other documents connected to the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Morford, who is heading the Traficant investigation, declined to comment. Traficant described Sugar as a "friend" and charged that "the Justice Department continues to manipulate the legal process around and near election time."
"Instead of intimidating, pressuring and frightening good people, I wish the Justice Department would cut the bulls--- and face me in court," Traficant said in a written statement after Sugar's guilty pleas.
"I have not broken the law," Traficant added. "If the U.S. attorney's office has something on me, indict me before the election so people can see whatever the charges may be."
According to Sugar's July indictment, the contractor lied to a grand jury when he was questioned about instructing an employee to falsify billing records detailing work his firm, Honey Creek Contracting Co., did at Traficant's Ohio horse farm.
The indictment did not name Traficant, but stated that the grand jury was investigating a "public official" on racketeering, tax evasion, bribery and gratuities charges. The public official was identified as Traficant by Sugar's attorney.
Although Traficant and his top aides openly predict he will be indicted, the timing of that move by prosecutors remains uncertain and will become even more politically charged if Traficant holds on to his seat Nov. 7.
If the margin between the parties narrows in the House, giving weight to Traficant's promise to break ranks and support Republican Dennis Hastert (Ill.) for Speaker, any move to indict him would be attacked by Traficant as well as Republicans as a politically inspired move by the Justice Department to protect the Democratic majority in the House.
Traficant has conducted a public campaign attacking the Justice Department all year, capping it off with an attack on Attorney General Janet Reno, who he said is an alcoholic lesbian being blackmailed by the mob.
House Republicans have tacitly endorsed Traficant's war on the Justice Department. They conducted a hearing on Traficant's bill to establish a watchdog over the department before a Judiciary subcommittee this summer.
An indictment of Traficant before the election is considered unlikely by legal experts, who said prosecutors generally try to refrain from making any bold moves against public officials close to an election.
Traficant is facing opposition from Randy Walter, a well-funded Independent candidate who has made Traficant's alleged corruption a central issue, and from a Republican who has been given no financial support from the National Republican Congressional Committee.