GREENFORD, Ohio - Former Ohio Congressman, Jim Traficant, is hospitalized after being seriously injured in a farm accident. Traficant was found just before 8:00 p.m. Tuesday under an overturned tractor at the West South Range Road home of his daughter, Elizabeth Traficant. Authorities say it appears Traficant had been pulling the tractor into the barn, and believe that it hit a steel blade causing, the tractor to flip over and trapping him underneath. Crews were able to free Traficant from underneath the tractor. He was taken to Salem Regional Hospital, and later transferred to St. Elizabeths Health center where his condition is described as critical. The former Mahoning County Sheriff and former member of the U.S. House of representatives has been largely absent from public life, following his release from federal prison five years ago. He served a seven year prison term after being convicted of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion.* In 2010, Traficant ran for his former Congressional seat and lost the election to current Valley Congressman Tim Ryan. Congressman Ryan issued a statement saying, I am saddened to hear this news about former Congressman Traficant. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * FWIW: I served under Traficant when he was a multi-term Sheriff of Mahoning County, OHIO... He was a solid conservative Oath-Keeper... The charges against him were political in nature and typical of the area corruption... He was being targetted for years on bogus accusations because he would NOT play party politics...
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:49:22 +0000