ROCHESTER, Minnesota (CNN) – Former Rep. James Traficant was released from federal prison Wednesday.
CNN affiliates KTTC and KAAL report that Traficant - sporting knee socks, shorts and a t-shirt, with his hair pulled back in a ponytail - left the Federal Medical Center prison facility in Rochester, Minnesota Wednesday morning in a cab.
Despite earlier reports that the nine-term Democratic congressman was headed for the local Greyhound station, the morning bus headed for his hometown area of Youngstown, Ohio left without him on board, and his name did not appear on the manifest.
Traficant served just over seven years in federal prison for charges that included obstruction of justice, tax evasion and bribery.
–CNN All Platform Journalist Chris Welch contributed to this story
(updated 12:30 pm with new information)
From CNN Politics
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Was he always a democrat? I thought only republicans were corrupt? At least that is what our Dear Leaders tell us through you, the 4th estate (or is it the 4th branch, I can't recall).
So there is a cell open for Rangle?
The dude has a wombat on his head.
Holy Hair doo Batman...
hahahahaha...Was he arrested by the fashion police?
I hope he runs for his old seat in Ohio. Another whack job in congress. No worse than the rest (except for the hair).
His big sin was being in the wrong part of government. "Obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and bribery" are what governors do when they fill a senate seat, or what cabinet appointees do. Maybe he can try one of these fields now.
Great job, 9 times the idiots in this guys District voted for him. The bureaucratic lawyers in Washington creating the legislation for the laws under which our government operates have manipulated our laws in such a manner as to allow our elected officials to accept bribes, they are called campaign contributions! Americans need to wake up and demand voter reform, campaign funding reform, term limits and anything else that keeps these lifer bureaucrats in check!
Beam me up!
I remember him. He was such a loud mouth he did himself in. That hair is a crime.
"The nine-term Democratic congressman served just over seven years in federal prison for charges that included obstruction of justice, tax evasion and bribery."
_________________
Given these qualifications, I'm sure there's a job in the Obama administration he would be good at.
He did 7 yrs at the Spa, but he still a "Star", Way?
I personally believe that an elected official who takes a bribe should get much more than 8 years. So should the people who bribe him or her.
However, Traficant has served his time and paid his debt to society. He has restored himself to our good graces. Let us hope he is a productive and honest citizen from here on.
Now if we can just get the rest of the crooked dems who dont pay taxes and accept bribes among many other things.
There are many more criminal politicians and they should all go to jail.
Both Democrat and Republican. Those who forgive any of these criminal politicians just because they identify with being on the same "team" should be ashamed of themselves.
2 party rule is no longer working for the best interest of Americans.
Hold the phone! To hear liberals tell it , the only crooks and criminals are in the GOP! The truth is this guy doesn't represent the whole of the Dem party. Too bad liberals don't share that point of view when it comes to the GOP! Right liberals??
Wow, did I read that James Traficant is a democrat. But I thought democrats were all "high and mighty". Guess they are not any different then anyone else. I can name a dozen dems who have publicly committed a crime over the past 10 years. So what makes them any different?
Democratic Culture of Corruption & bad hair.
The bird has flown the coop! He was a pompus windbag who didn't want to be accountable. I hope he has learned his lesson!
Why aren't bush, cheyney and rove in prison for the more serious crimes of treason, murder and lying???
Those wacky Democrats and their taxes. When is Charlie Wrangle going to go to jail, or at least pay a fine like the rest of us? After all it is that waskelly wabbit's third time with his, oops, tax mishap. Wasn't it Vice President Biden who said if you don't pay your fair share of taxes, then you are "unpatriotic"?
The nine-term Democratic congressman surely destined to be re-elected by his mindless liberal supporters in Youngstown Ohio if he can just find the right 2nd grade cartoon catch phrase.., Yes he can!!
When are Rangal and Murtha and half of Obama's cabinet going to the big house?
He can now run for re-election and the nitwit Democrats will again vote him in.
Off base, don't think so, I live in Mass and these fools voted for a murderer in the Senate 8 times.
Our other SEnator committed treason upon coming back fron nam, and yet he has been re-elected 4 times, BUT NOT NEXT YEAR LIVESHOT.
The democrats have their poster boy back.
Another lying, cheating, corrupt democrat? No way!