Congressman to act as counsel

CLEVELAND – Federal prosecutors want U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., who isn't a lawyer, informed of the risks of representing himself before he is arraigned on corruption charges.

Government attorneys on Wednesday asked that U.S. District Court Judge Lesley Wells determine whether Traficant has "knowingly and intelligently made" the decision to represent himself.

The judge plans to travel to Youngstown, in Traficant's 17th District, to hold such a hearing before the congressman is arraigned Friday by a federal magistrate, Wells' office said.

Traficant was indicted last week on 10 counts including racketeering, bribery and conspiracy. He had not changed his mind about representing himself before Magistrate Judge George J. Limbert, congressional aide Charles Straub said yesterday.

The government motion acknowledged that Traficant has the right to act as his own lawyer but added that going to trial without representation has risks for a criminal defendant, including the chance of a prison term.

In addition, the motion said, "Congressman Traficant should be advised that he will not be accorded special leeway or other advantages because he is not an attorney."

"Furthermore, the government requests that Congressman Traficant be warned that not even the court can predict all possible disadvantages that the congressman may encounter."

Traficant represented himself in 1983 when he was acquitted of accepting mob bribes while serving as sheriff in Youngstown.