Jailed congressman has art time revoked

CLEVELAND, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The price of art by former U.S. Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, for sale on eBay has skyrocketed now that he is not permitted to paint.

A Web site featuring the art has posted a message that the disgraced Ohio congressman -- serving eight years at a federal prison in Minnesota for conspiracy and racketeering -- had his art privileges revoked.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports inmates cannot conduct business from prison -- which is the cause for the move.

But Sybille Oelschlager said Traficant doesn't know they've been selling. The longtime supporter said he sent her the art for a critique and she put them on the market.

Oelschlager said she was going to use the profits to buy more art supplies for Traficant.

Three of the four paintings still on eBay have more than $1,000 bids.