Congressman to Defend Himself on Charges
- Share via
A wisecracking Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., the Democratic congressman known for his brash talk and loud clothes, pleaded not guilty to corruption charges and will represent himself even though he isn’t a lawyer.
“I am comfortable with my defense,” Traficant told the judge. “I have an education. I can read.”
Traficant was elected to his ninth term in November despite his prediction he would be indicted.
Traficant, 60, was indicted last week on charges that include racketeering, bribery and conspiracy. He could face 63 years in prison and $2.2 million in fines.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
The latest effort is coming from the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. They just announced a $3 million program in conjunction with some nonprofits groups to test and clean the soil at homes still standing in the areas impacted by the Eaton Fire.
California once bet big on offshore wind to help power its clean-energy future, but the Trump administration is now paying developers billions to walk away from their projects. As California’s remaining offshore-wind leases hang in the balance, the state is fighting back in court.
The Hillside Strangler murders terrorized Los Angeles in the late 1970s. The killers were a pair of sadistic cousins. One confessed. The other was set to stand trial—until L.A. prosecutors flinched.
