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May 10, 2001
The Free Congress Commentary
Traficant - Guilty until Proven Innocent?
by Paul M. Weyrich
How can I say this in such a way that it won't be misunderstood? I don't
want anybody to think that I approve of wrongdoing on the part of public
officials. So if someone is really guilty they ought to be punished. But in
our system the accused is supposed to be presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Somehow in the atmosphere in which we find ourselves, public
officials, once accused, are presumed guilty no matter what the evidence and
that just isn't right.
Let me say at the outset I have no particular knowledge regarding the case
against Representative Jim Traficant, Democrat of Ohio. A grand jury has
returned a multi-count indictment against the nine-term Congressman,
alleging a variety of charges, including bribery. All of the charges appear
to involve relatively minor matters, but if all of the charges were true,
taken collectively, perhaps they would add up to something very serious.
Some years ago, Traficant, acting in his own defense, beat RICO racketeering
charges brought by the Justice Department. He believes this latest round of
indictments amounts to payback time. No one had ever won a RICO case
against the Establishment before.
Again, maybe Traficant is guilty as sin. But if he is I will be very
surprised. I have interviewed him on television several times and I have had
him speak to meetings I have chaired. There is something genuine about this
fellow that is quite remarkable. He may be a great actor. But I do think he
has a point, that his indictment may indeed be the result of a payback. That
is how the Washington Establishment operates. If they target you, they
intend to get you. Should you manage to survive one way, they will come back
and get you some other way. Television's "X-Files" is not outrageous in that
respect.
Traficant says he is again going to defend himself. He says he can't trust
his defense to some high priced lawyer who might sell him out at the moment
of truth. He is probably right to go that route, given his situation.
Once more, if the Congressman is really a crook then let a jury of his peers
put him where he belongs. But in doing so, they will be silencing one of the
few genuine voices who is willing to speak out without fear. Sometimes what
he says is silly. Sometimes it is just plain wrong. But sometimes he hits
the nail right on the head the way none of his colleagues ever does.
They may silence Traficant but they do so while the big time crooks get by
with murder and no one ever lays a hand on them.
Jim Traficant, I hope you are innocent. And if you are, I hope you blow them
away in the courtroom.
Paul Weyrich is president of the Free Congress Foundation.
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