Are Expelled House Members Able to Be Re-Elected?

• By C. Simon Davidson
• Roll Call Contributing Writer
• March 2, 2010, Midnight

Q: I am an Ohio voter with a question regarding the qualifications to be a Member of Congress. I read that James Traficant is planning to run for the House of Representatives this year. As I recall, he was expelled from the House years ago for accepting bribes, and even went to jail. Doesn’t that make him ineligible for Congress? Or can expelled Members rejoin the House if elected again?