Traficant Tells Jurors He Never Coerced Bribes
Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. told jurors at his bribery trial in Cleveland that he never coerced bribes or favors, and he claimed the government was out to get him, partly for his legislative actions involving the Internal Revenue Service.
Prosecutor Craig Morford said Traficant “used his position as a congressman to perform and promise to perform official acts and in exchange he received free things.”
Among the gifts Traficant is accused of taking are thousands of dollars of construction work at his farm and thousands of dollars in cash.
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