CNN

He shouldn't be alllowed to even be photographed until someone fixes that awful hairdo.

Mike Sanford set a precedent by not resigning his seat and this crook wants to run for congress. I think the public are getting desensitized slowly to accept less from our politicians.

Wouldn't you think after a conviction they should be BARRED FOR LIFE from running again??????????

Why the heck not? His return would probably improve the average ethical standards of the House.

All those years in prison and he still has that crazy hair do...gosh will the man ever learn to comb his hair?

Trafficant PLEASE do us a favor and change your party affiliation to Republican, if for no other reason than so all the wing nuts will be in the same political party.

No way,man. The people of America deserve better than this retread! There are a ton of criminals-to-be just waiting for the chance to abuse the power of their office. Of course, we Americans like things that are shiny and new and we want new crooks in office–not an old dude from prior episodes. You know like when they change the cast of Dancing with the Stars or Survivor every season, we want some new dudes ripping us off....go back to lawyering or whatever disgraced politicians do when they lose their office....

Yet another corrupt Democrat. It's very ironic. Democrats, the working class heroes, get tripped up when they steal from the public coffers.

But Democrats' whole political philosophy is based on stealing from the population to increase their power, so I guess we should not be surprised.

GOP has their embarrassment that just won't go away (actually, all republicans are an embarassment to americans) so we were bound to get one that was bad, and here he is.

I can say this though, Traficant on his worst day in history is 100 times better then ANY republican on their best day ever.

How can he run for office again? As a convicted felon doesn't he automatically lose certain privilidges such as the right to vote, the right to hold public office, etc.?

Washington could use more than 1 James Traficant right now. Americans are losing faith in our government each passing day. A failed bailout. Rising deficit. He was a finger pointer and we need more representatives like him. Representatives being key word here.

CNN, don't you have better things to report on ? Why are you giving any airtime to corrupt ex-con's ?

Please report on people who are doing good for this country instead of giving any time to people who want to bring down this country.

No doubt if he runs for office again – Democrats will embrace him...

Politics is full of scum like him. What I do not understand is how people will look the other way on what scumbags like him have done and yet act out with astonished disgust over a "You Lie" shout.

Particularly when Obama does in fact lie through half truths and ommissions.

And why would Mr. Traficant not make a perfect candidate? He would fit right in with the tax dodgers, thieves and voter defrauders already populating our high government offices. What are the odds he will be re-elected by a convincing margin of votes?

NO! It is truly amazing to behold the double standards in this country. Minor offenses of ordinary folk is never forgotten, but guys like this think they are above the law. This man has little Integrity and should find another way to earn his living. Sorry, but we deserve folks who respect our laws. Hopefully, we can get all of these self-servers out of government. Peace

No. This man should not be allowed to hold any position of authority.

I kinda like this crook. He is real. LOL

Say it isn't so.

We have enough crooks in Congress already.

We need to get rid of the Dems and Reps that do NOT represent us - but take money from Financial and Insurance companies to get more money for corporate America.

If we don't get rid of the crooks now, we never will. BOTH PARTIES.

And do NOT elect any more of them. Send a message, people.

Is he running with or with out the hair pice. The guy has no shame.

If he did get elected again ( the man lives in the twilight zone)
he and rangel would have a lot in common.

Left or Right, this kind of stuff should not stand. He's an idiot with a bad toupee.

The US Congress needs more mavericks like Traficant. I've never been convinced that he committed those crimes,

At least he had that pet on his head to keep him company in prison.

so whats the problem

everyone in dc should have a criminal record

he just happens to have gotten it out of the way

maybe he should take that ridiculous looking rug off his head for starters

Traficant would be fine in today's Washington, except he should trim his hair up quite a bit.

Mr. Traficant is another crook from Youngstown, Ohio. I should know because I lived through those Traficant years. He did nothing in Youngstown, Ohio. Look at it now, it's shameful, he and the other Democrats who ran Youngstown those years are and were(most are dead) crooks all of them. That's why I had to raise my family elsewhere. Youngstown, Ohio the place that I was born, was destroyed by the likes of Taficant and all his cronies.

if i lived in ohio, i would certainly vote for you mr. traficant...........and vote out the c-street evil sinners and all, if it could be done, of the pathetic corrupt satanic repugnants...........they are the lowest echelon in society...........not even fitted to dwell in a pig's sty, why you may ask.....simply because the pigs would object..........man! i am being nice

Beam him up, is right! Right into the looney bin. Weren't those charges considered felonies? And am I not right in assuming that if you are convicted of felonies you cannot vote? And if you cannot vote, can you still run for office?

Wikipedia states: "In the United States felons often face additional consequences, such as the loss of voting rights in many states; exclusion from certain lines of work and difficulty in finding a job in others; prohibition from obtaining certain licenses; exclusion from purchase and possession of firearms, ammunition and body armour; and ineligibility to run for or be elected to public office."

I wonder, can anyone find out if that is true in Ohio? If it is, he's just blowing smoke...

This guy is seriously delusional.

His rants on the floor of congress were a perennial fav. A complete and total nut case. No worse than the republicons in congress – and more sense than to yel at a president that he is lying when he saying something true...

At least trafficant was not in favor of the lunacy most republicons support, crazy as he is.

We paid Traficant's salary while he was in office, paid to prosecute him, and paid to keep him in prison for 7 years. We don't have anything to show for that money. Surely the good voters of Ohio can find another person to represent them.

Can convicted Felons run for the Congress???

Star Trek reference, huh? OK, I'll play. Why does he have a dead tribble on his head? Have a nice day!

He won't get a shot at running again until we know what he's hiding under that "buffant" hairstyle!

Oh please. Don't be an idiot. Oh, too late.

If I were him, I wouldn't be jumping into the limelight. Wait some time before being in the spot light again and build up some crediablity. Doing that will make it harder to dispute that you are just in it for the money and being bribed again.

If anyone is looking for their lost skunk... it's on Trafficant's head.

Mr Traficant can do as he wishes – lord knows he would be no worse than at least 50% of those in office today – but this begs the questions is he on parole? and is a felon allowed by law to serve in congress? and could the congress if elected stop him from being seated? if you know the answers please post – thanks

A thief is a thief is a thief, we don't need another one in congress, its full of them already.

When the Dem's put this crook back in office, maybe he can take over Charlie Rangle seat on the Ways & Means committee.

just what we need a crook back in congress...time to weed em all out!

We don't need people like him in Congress. There is just too much graft and corruption as it is.

He may just be the most moral and honest Democrat in America today. I know, that's not saying much.

If he stops paying his taxes he'd have a shot at being the this administrations cabinet! He's a poster boy for WHY there are tea-parties against government expansion.

Hey, why not, it worked for Marion Berry.

Wow. Another crooked democrat running for office. Good thing he's not Republican because then the dems wouldn't allow him in.

Why would anybody vote for a crook?

With congressman Joe Wilson, we already have enough fools in congress.

Yeah I don't think he should run for office, he needs to find a different career.

Traficant will fit in well with House Repuglicans. Of course if he doesn't win he can be a Republican commentator or radio show host or hairpiece salesman.

Palin/Traficant 2012

I would hope that Youngstown would also take into account what is best for the country and vote against Traficant. It is time for him to retire from public life.

Oh please....spare us the pain of your presence and your hair!!!!

Wow an arrogant Democrat that has an ego problem. What are the odds of that? I guess Obama could use a person like him in his administration because he is a convicted felon!

The sad part is if he were a republican people would be outraged by his behavior but since he is a Democrat they are just used to how they act!

um. I don't think convicted felons are eligible to run for office.

Is this our typical congressman ? Cheating , Thieving individuals ?
What happened to THE HONEST, GOOD PEOPLE ?
American People don't settle for less. No matter what party you spport. Insist on honest, good people who don't have a prision background because of their corrupt way of thinking! Bring our country back to where it should be. Run by people who want to see our country thrive and a country who accepts diversity and understands that, diversity is what this country is made of.

Just what we need.....MORE crooks in Washington! I can't believe people would even vote for this crook! But I am not a liberal democrat.

Anything is possible in the U.S. of A. Just think of the laundry list of lies and deceits Cheney pulled off and there are people out there who still give credence to what he says.

To think he can even think about running with a federal conviction on his record is mind blowing. The truly sad part is after looking at who's in Congress now, he'd fit right in! Don't do it Youngstown, it will reflect badly on you!

So exactly what is that thing on this guy's head? It looks like a woodchuck.

He should fit right in with the rest of those lawmakers.The pot can't call the kettle black.

Sounds like another moron!

Run Jim Run!..."there all dead Jim"

Isn't this guy a convicted felon? I didn't think that a convicted felon was allowed to serve in Congress. I realize that the American people are "served" by crooks from both parties, but I thought that you had to be caught red handed and convicted before you were barred.

Great !

Really? A former felon Democrat wants to run for office? Shocking. I hope the democratic voters of Ohio who want to charge Bush, Cheney et al, of crimes will have the fortitude to not vote ofr a REAL CRIMINAL.

He needs to join the G O P, they are his kind....

Great job CNN. There is another video catching ACORN in the act, this time in NYC, where the ACORN president said in earlier remarks, that the investigative journalists had been unsuccessful. Your top story is Kanye West at the VMAs last night. Great journalism!

Being a Dem this time round, of course he can return to Congress. Who would stop him????

DemocRAT's , RATpublicans and IDIOTpendant's ! For all you voters who support corruption. For all of you voters who want to put in office cheats and thieving individuals to support your corrupt causes. One day karma will smile upon you too !

I like James Traficant I think he's awesome, a crook? far from it this guy has nothing on bush administration and the financial industry in this country I want him to be back in congress we need more people like him that tell it like it is. I can see why they kicked him out of the house of represenativies in the first place it's because he was not a team player well all that I have to say about that is to bad James Traficant is who he is and he is not going to change if I could vote to get him back in congress I would hell he should even run for president go James go!!!!!

What an idiot.

Pride is what usually preceeds a downfall....foolish is what come after the fall

I can't believe they let him out of jail with his appalling toupee and 70s sideburns. That alone is criminal.

How can this convicted FELON run for public office? Are there no laws left in America that keep LIARS, THIEVES and THUGS out of office?

LIke foul mouth Sarina Williams and the drunken bum of a singer who interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance of her award at the music awards. This man needs to set down and shut up. The two, Sarina and the singer need to be black balled.

Can a convicted felon run for congress? I guess the only diffence from him and those in office is that they haven't been convicted yet.

The democrats already have enough criminals in Washington right now, we dont need anymore.

He would fit right in with the other convicts in Washington.

he'd fit right in with Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Alcee Hastings, & John Murtha.

In a democracy, the people always get the government they deserve.

James Traficant will make a great addition to the progressively corrupt 111th liberal Congress.., at least he's honest about wasting our childrens futures.

Why does he have a dead possum on top of his head in the photo? Have a nice day!

He might as well, at least everyone knows he is a crook just like the rest of the politicians and lawyers and lobbyist in Washington DC.

I'm googling a law book as we speak. Felons cannot vote, but Traficant can run for Congress? It' almost poetic, isn't it?

I can't wait for Charles Manson to be paroled so he can also become a member of Congress. Then Traficant might have a colleague with similar character. Why are criminals allowed to run for public office? Even more alarming is why people vote for them? I'm sure there are enough law abiding citizens who can fill those seats.

You have got to be kidding!! Aren't there some sort of laws that keep Felons from running for office.

I don't think so. No incumbents either. These guys are taking our money and the money from corporations and guess who they are fighting for. Not us. Time for a third party.

Beam him back to jail. He obviously didn't lean anything from his first visit.

Not only Washington doesn't wanna see you but I don't wanna see you!! What are you, an idiot? Talk about being disillusioned with his future and his chances. And if he does run, he ain't gonna go nowhere, that I can guarantee you. I don't know where he got these advisers and decisions regarding him making a bid or running for a seat. He's gotta be smarter than that.

And is true, he no longer represents Ohio voters, get that in mind Mr. Trafficant.

Even his name sounds like a mobs name for that matter. He will lose if he decides or thinks about it, put that in the bank!!!

Wow! Good luck with that, Sparky. Have a nice day!

This man is aiming to low, as a democrat with a prison record, he could be one obama's top czars, or if he didn't pay his taxes he could be a cabinet officer. If he decides to run for Congress, he can sit right next to Charlie Rangel.