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Former U.S. Rep. James Traficant Dies at 73
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant has died, according to reports. Word of his death hit Facebook shortly after noon today, and while the family has not officially confirmed it, The Business Journal has confirmed that the reports are accurate.
He was 73 years old.
Traficant died late this morning at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where he was airlifted from Salem Hospital Tuesday evening after an accident at his family's farm in Greenford.
He was best known for his flamboyant and at times outrageous behavior on the House floor, drawing media attention by adding phrases such as "Beam Me Up!" at the tail end of his speeches. The former congressman was also well-known for his populist, anitestablishment rhetoric.
The former congressman was seriously injured when a tractor he was operating flipped on top of him, pinning him under the vehicle. He was taken to Salem Hospital and then life flighted to St. Elizabeth's in Youngstown where he remained in critical condition.
Traficant served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Ohio's 17th district, which included the Mahoning Valley, from 1985 until 2002. Congress voted to remove him from office following his conviction on racketeering and bribery charges.