-Caveat Lector- 08/13/2001 - Updated 11:46 PM ET Contractor pleads guilty to paying bribe to Traficant CLEVELAND (AP) A contractor pleaded guilty Monday to bribing U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant in 1998. Traficant, who has represented the Youngstown area in Congress for 18 years, was indicted in May on charges of accepting cash and thousands of dollars worth of free work at his farm in exchange for helping businessmen gain contracts. Traficant is representing himself in court, though he is not an attorney. James Sabatine, 49, of Canfield, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to paying Traficant a $2,400 bribe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Blake said Sabatine "has agreed to cooperate" with prosecutors, which may include having him testify against Traficant. In the plea agreement filed Monday, prosecutors said Sabatine paid the bribe three years ago for help in getting access to a rail line near Sabatine's asphalt plant. Traficant has not been charged with accepting a bribe from Sabatine, but prosecutors could ask to add additional charges to his indictment. Traficant, a Democrat, did not return telephone messages left at his district office in Youngstown and his Washington office. A 3.50-year federal investigation of corruption in the Youngstown area has led to more than 70 convictions, including a judge, a prosecutor, a sheriff and a Traficant aide who has since died. Sabatine is the third businessman convicted in the investigation of Traficant, 60. He is also pleading guilty to failing to pay $239,000 in taxes. Traficant has denied any wrongdoing, and has hinted that he will build his defense around allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. John J. Cafaro, a multimillionaire member of a Youngstown mall-development family, and A. David Sugar, a construction company owner, have pleaded guilty in the investigation. ================================================================ Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: *Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends ================================================================ <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om