Intheir for being removed from the United States Congress and imprisoned for a series of criminal offenses (including false tax filing and racketeering), this Democratic Party politician represented Ohio's 17th District in the U.S. Congress from 1985 until 2002.
Before beginning his political career, he was the quarterback for the University of Pittsburgh's football team and was a twentieth-round NFL draft pick. He opted not to play football professionally and instead earned master's degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Youngstown State University.
He died following a September, 2014 tractor accident on his Ohio farm.
He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, as the son of James and Agnes Traficant. His marriage to Patricia Choppa Traficant lasted until his death.
While in Congress, he voted against impeachment proceedings for President Bill Clinton.