Traficant wins time to prove signatures

A former Ohio congressman who was convicted on corruption charges in 2002 will have more time to prove he has enough signatures to qualify for another bid.

The AP reports that the extra time for James Traficant was approved by the elections board in one Ohio county after Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner broke a tie vote.

The same board had rejected his petition in early July, saying about 100 of the 2,199 required signatures were invalid. 

Brunner is expected to instruct other Ohio counties to cooperate.

A Democrat, Traficant had been a member of the House for 17 years before he was convicted for bribery and racketeering in 2002 and sentenced to jail time.

He was released in 2009 and filed to run for his old seat as an independent in May 2010.