James Traficant, ex-Ohio congressman who spent 7 years in prison, weighs primary bid

Traficant stays mum on whether he will run

CLEVELAND — Democrats in northeast Ohio are watching to see if a former congressman who spent seven years in federal prison for corruption will try to stage an unprecedented political comeback.

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. James Traficant, who once made a failed bid for Congress from prison, has warned for weeks that he may try to unseat one of the Democrats representing the economically struggling Youngstown area. Congressional primary hopefuls must submit petitions to run by 4 p.m. Thursday.

Traficant’s spokesman Dennis Malloy says the former congressman has petitions ready to file in both the 6th and 17th congressional districts, but he may pass on the primary altogether and run as an independent.

Traficant was released from prison in September.