Charles Rangel

What Happens When Congressmen Break The Rules?

Rachel Slajda | November 18, 2010, 8:38AM

Former Congressman James Traficant (D-OH)

The House ethics committee will likely decide today how Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) should be punished for committing 11 ethics violations. They could recommend a range of sanctions, from giving him a stern talking to all the way to kicking him out.

No one expects Rangel, a 40-year congressman who was just re-elected with 80 percent of the vote, to be expelled. He will, more likely, face reprimand or censure.

In order to give a little bit of context to whatever punishment is recommended for Rangel, we thought we'd show you how different congress members had earned each of the three main types of sanction: expulsion, censure and reprimand.

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Jim Traficant

He's In! Traficant Will Be On The Ballot

Rachel Slajda | September 1, 2010, 5:12PM

James Traficant

It's official.

TPMmuckraker's favorite ex-convict ex-Congressman Jim Traficant will appear on the ballot for his old House seat in Ohio.

A county board of elections ruled today, in a meeting that lasted less than a minute, that Traficant has enough signatures to make it on the ballot.

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Jim Traficant

Traficant To Get On The Ballot; Official Decision Wednesday

Rachel Slajda | August 31, 2010, 9:15AM

Jim Traficant

Jim Traficant, the former congressman and ex-con, has enough signatures to get on the ballot for his old House seat.

Last night, according to the Youngstown Vindicator, a county board of elections certified another 31 signatures that Traficant supporters had argued were valid.

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Jim Traficant

Ohio's Brunner Rules On Traficant Appeal: He Still Has A Chance

Rachel Slajda | August 27, 2010, 8:15AM

Former Rep. Jim Traficant (D-OH)

In another turn on our emotion roller coaster, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has ruled on ex-con ex-Rep. Jim Traficant's appeal to get on the ballot for his old House seat. And she's giving him one more chance to try.

As you may recall, Traficant, who was released from prison last fall, made a push to get on the ballot but fell short of the signatures needed. He appealed, saying that the elections board both overestimated how many signatures he needed and threw out some valid signatures.

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Jim Traficant

Supporters Of Traficant Threaten Lawsuit To Get Him On Ballot

Ryan J. Reilly | August 25, 2010, 10:30AM

Former Congressman James Traficant (D-OH)

Just when you think he's out, supporters of disgraced former Ohio Rep. Jim Traficant are trying to pull him back in.

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Kwame Kilpatrick

Where Are They Now? TPM's Favorite Scandal Makers Edition

Jillian Rayfield | June 28, 2010, 8:50AM

Fmr. FL Rep. Mark Foley (R), Fmr. NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), Fmr. IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), Fmr. DC Lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Disgraced politicians never die, they just fade away. Or get a show on CNN.

TPM has covered many a politician over the years who's been brought down by his own malfeasance, and recently some of them have re-entered the spotlight in one way or another. So where do infamous politicians go after their political careers have been ruined? Well, some go to trial, some go to prison, and apparently some enter the retail industry.

Here's a look at where some of TPM's favorite scandal-makers are now...

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