House panel votes to expel Traficant

A vote by the full House on the recommendation is expected by early next week. A two-thirds vote is needed to expel.

If expelled, Traficant, 61, would become the second member of Congress to be kicked out since the Civil War.

The unanimous vote by the 10-member House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct came hours after a defiant Traficant appeared before the committee and urged members to stay any decision on his punishment and to hear from witnesses who could testify on his behalf.

"Otherwise, I will break out of prison and I'll make a neck tie out of some these bureaucrats," he said.