Traficant Press Statement

PRESS STATEMENT

The Investigative Subcommittee in the Matter of Representative James A. Traficant, Jr., today transmitted to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct a 10 count Statement of Alleged Violations. As provided by Committee rules, and absent a waiver of the hearing by Representative Traficant, a public adjudicatory hearing will be held to determine whether any counts in the Statement of Alleged Violations have been proven by clear and convincing evidence.

The Statement of Alleged Violations is based on the testimony and evidence adduced at the criminal trial of Representative Traficant in United States District Court in Cleveland, Ohio. The Statement of Alleged Violations charges that Representative Traficant violated the Code of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives and the Code of Ethics for Government Service through a number of means, including:

Agreeing to perform, and performing, official acts on behalf of individuals and/or businesses for which those individuals and/or businesses agreed to and did provide Representative Traficant with things of value;

Agreeing to employ a member of his congressional district staff in exchange for $2,500 per month in salary kickbacks from the employee;

Endeavoring to persuade this same employee to destroy evidence and to give false testimony to a federal grand jury;

Defrauding the United States of money and property by a variety of means;

Filing false income tax returns;

Engaging in a continuing pattern and practice of official misconduct through which he misused his office for personal gain.

A copy of the Statement of Alleged Violations is attached to this press release.

Those members of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct who did not serve on the Investigative Subcommittee will serve on the Adjudicatory Subcommittee. Representative Joel Hefley, Colorado, Chairman of the Committee on Standards, will be Chairman of the Adjudicatory Subcommittee; Representative Howard L. Berman, California, Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, will be Ranking Minority Member of the Adjudicatory Subcommittee. Also serving on the Adjudicatory Subcommittee are: Representative Judy Biggert, Illinois; Representative Ed Pastor, Arizona; Representative Kenny C. Hulshof, Missouri; Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Ohio; Representative Steven C. LaTourette, Ohio; Representative Gene Green, Texas.

The public adjudicatory hearing is scheduled to commence Monday, July 15, 2002, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 2118 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

A copy of the Letter of Transmittal from the Investigative Subcommittee to the Committee is also attached to this press release.