Following his interview with CNN, Jim Traficant appeared as guest host on WKBN Radio filling in behind the mic for Dan Rivers. First News Anchor Jeff Levkulich engaged the former congressman in his first concentrated sit-down interview. Here is Jeff's report.
Traficant has been dodging the local media since he came back to town, but when asked to appear as host for WKBN Radio, he agreed, because Dan Rivers has always been fair. He also has another agenda. "The main purpose I am here this morning, is I want to get some support for the Delphi salaried and hourly workers whose pensions have been impacted, so terribly. There is a multiplication factor throughout the country that can mount to the billions over ten states. As much as I am concerned about those states, Jeff, I'm concerned about right here and our people have got to be made whole. If we can spend money all over the world, and were talking about trillions of dollars, why can't we take care of our own people."
Traficant says he wants to get back into politics, to help the little man once again. It's a move he is still contemplating. When asked what he would run as, he is not sure, saying both Democrats and Republicans are so much alike it's a disservice to the country. And he knows there are several people out there who wish he would stay away. "I think they are worried about me coming back having a viable shot at winning, even after seven years in prison. And they think they are going to send people in here to stop whatever momentum I have, so I'm trying to use that to say 'O.K., you want to make sure I don't get back Washington. One way you can do that is to take care of our people, and it wont be an issue."
When asked about Congressman Tim Ryan who took over his district when he went to prison seven years ago. Traficant says he hasn't studied him. "What I have to say, not just about Youngstown, but with the 4 or 5 congressman who run this area, with all the stimulus money out there...If I were there, a hell of a lot more of it would be down here."
Traficant says he wants vindication for the years he spent behind bars. "If I run, get your best hold because there's no doubt what my goal is if I do run. I want to go to Washington. I want to pass the Fair Justice Act. I don't want any American to get screwed again by a powerful central government, and if they do, the Traficant Fair Justice Act says that the director, nominated by the President....in fact set by the Senate, has one task only. The Fair Justice Agency investigates and prosecutes crime within the Justice Department."
When asked about any low points during his prison stay Traficant said this. "I had no visitors, none. I never complained. If I'd signed a form saying I was guilty, I could have got a pardon."
