Ex-Aide Tells of Work on Traficant’s Farm

A former staff member for Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. (D-Ohio) testified Thursday that most of the work he did while on the congressional payroll was at Traficant’s horse farm.

Richard Rovnak said he was hired in 1990 to help constituents part time at Traficant’s Youngstown office. But Rovnak said he spent most of his time at the farm, at times working 16-hour days on plumbing and carpentry projects.

Staffers have testified at Traficant’s corruption trial that the Democratic congressman made them do personal chores while on the congressional payroll.

Traficant, who is representing himself, although he is not a lawyer, denies charges of tax falsification, racketeering and accepting gifts and favors for his political influence. He faces up to 63 years in prison and expulsion from the House if convicted.

Rovnak said he was among several staffers who worked on Traficant’s boat at the request of H. West Richards, Traficant’s chief of staff in Washington from 1990 through 1993.

Richards testified Thursday that he never forced staffers to work on the boat but that they may have “perceived pressure from the congressman” to do the work.

While cross-examining Rovnak, Traficant reminisced with him about their days playing football together. Rovnak also admitted committing perjury in an unrelated civil lawsuit.

Traficant later asked if Rovnak thought he had been hired strictly as a farm worker paid by taxpayers.

“That’s what happened,” Rovnak said.

On Wednesday, Traficant said he would run as an independent in the newly formed 17th Congressional District because the trial leaves him no time to mount a primary campaign for the Democratic nomination.