As the national spotlight dimmed on his four-day radio broadcast
   last week, a darker side of Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio)
   emerged as he used the airwaves to accuse, without proof, an
   FBI agent of rape and a Youngstown official of bribery, and to
   threaten retaliation against constituents who knock him.

   His demeanor decidedly different from when C-SPAN carried his
   first day as host of a talk-radio show in Youngstown, a snarling
   Traficant, peppering his talk with obscenities, lashed out at his
   accusers and displayed an intimate knowledge of organized-crime figures.

   The eight-term lawmaker was indicted May 4 on 10 felony
   counts of bribery, racketeering, tax evasion and obstruction of
   justice, as well as ordering his Congressional staff to do
   personal work for him. He was invited to host a radio talk show
   for more than 10 hours last week, even though some community
   groups said the appearance threatened to poison the jury pool
   at his trial next February.

   However, Traficant dropped a bombshell when he opened
   Thursday morning's show by accusing by name an FBI agent of
   rape without offering any substantiation.

   "I'd like to ring his neck because I know I could never get him to
   trial,"Traficant said. "Judges are afraid to death of these guys.
   But if he sues me, it's going to hit the fan. I'll be damned if
   somebody will violate our women and our wives."

   According to the head of the FBI's Cleveland office, Traficant
   has never provided any information about FBI wrongdoing,
   despite repeated requests to do so.

   "I have repeatedly asked Mr. Traficant to furnish to me, our
   Internal Affairs at FBI Headquarters or the Department of
   Justice inspector general any information he has about
   misconduct or criminal activity by our personnel," said Van Harp,
   the agent in charge of the Cleveland FBI.

   "So far I am aware of no such information provided by Mr. Traficant.
   Mr. Traficant can also furnish this information to the appropriate state
   authority, which he has not done to date, as far as I know. I have no
   further comment except to refer you back to Mr. Traficant for details
   he has stated he has in his possession."

   John Sennett, president of the FBI Agents' Association, added,
   "If Mr. Traficant has something to say about the conduct of an
   FBI agent, he should say it with specifics. If he has no
   specifics, he should refrain from irresponsibly defaming the
   integrity of a law enforcement officer."

   Traficant didn't stop with the FBI, also questioning the
   legitimacy of the 1999 conviction of former Youngstown Sheriff
   Phil Chance for conspiring with convicted mobsters. He also
   claimed that the current Youngstown sheriff had accepted
   bribes. The sheriff, who is widely regarded as above reproach,
   could not be reached for comment.

   "By the third day the show really degenerated into what I
   suppose we could call McCarthyism - character assassination
   and unsubstantiated charges," said Thomas Flynn, a professor
   of speech at Slippery Rock University, who has studied
   Traficant's rhetorical style over the years.

   "It was almost as if a second personality emerged when he
   knew his words weren't being carried nationally," Flynn said. "He
   keeps referring to these investigations that he conducts, but
   these investigations never seem to produce any evidence of
   anything, and if they do, he never does anything with it."

   Apparently, Traficant's attraction to government conspiracy
   theorists was even too much for neighboring Rep. Steve
   LaTourette (R-Ohio), who has actively defended the errant
   lawmaker. LaTourette called the show to correct a perception
   created by one of Traficant's callers that there was a secret,
   nefarious government building in his district.

   "It's our emergency operations center," LaTourette explained,
   adding that his local sheriff was concerned that the image created
   by Traficant's show "would encourage people who aren't fond of
   the government to take some action against the facility."

   Traficant also revealed that he had juries on his mind, exclaiming at
   one point, "God bless juries! God bless juries! God bless juries!"

   Despite assertions that none of the calls were screened, the
   on-air calls taken by Traficant were overwhelmingly supportive,
   even though last year's election returns showed that almost half
   the voters did not cast ballots for him. And the few callers who
   did criticize the Congressman were greeted with threats and
   name-calling by Traficant.

   "I've listened to your mouth," Traficant said to one caller who asked
   about the lawmaker's relationship with a number of mobsters.
  "Buddy, just remember this, I bite back too, and I'm tired of your bulls---."

   Traficant's repeated swearing drew a number of phone calls to the station
   complaining about his language. Even though Traficant said he would try
   to watch himself, he quickly began spewing obscenities again.

   William Kelly, vice president-marketing director of Clear Channel
   Communications, Inc., the radio conglomerate that broadcast Traficant's
   show, said he was "pleased" with the Congressman's performance.

   Kelly said he was not listening when Traficant made the rape allegation and
   was unconcerned because the station's news department attempted to provide
   the FBI with a chance to comment about it.

   "We hope that sometime in the future he will do it again," Kelly said,
    noting that Traficant was not paid for his hosting stint.
   "He did a very nice job, and it would be nice to have him back on the air again."