James Traficant, expelled rep

JAMES A. Traficant Jr., a self-described "junkyard dog" of a politician who became only the second person to be expelled by Congress since the Civil War, died Saturday. He was 73.

Traficant succumbed to injuries suffered Tuesday when a vintage tractor he was putting away in a garage at his farm outside of Youngstown, Ohio, flipped over on him, said his wife, Trish Traficant.

In July 2002, Congress voted overwhelmingly to expel Traficant, a nine-term Democrat, after he was found guilty of taking kickbacks from staff members and pocketing bribes in return for political favors.

- Tribune News Service