Washington ? The House on Wednesday expelled Ohio Rep. James Traficant for taking bribes and kickbacks, only the second time since the Civil War that it has removed a sitting member for unethical conduct.

Representatives voted 420-1 to immediately banish the nine-term Democrat after a federal jury in Cleveland convicted him on 10 counts of racketeering, bribery and tax evasion and a House ethics panel recommended his removal. Nine lawmakers voted present.

Traficant, 61, was defiant to the end.

“I’m prepared to lose everything. I’m prepared to go to jail. You go ahead and expel me,” he said, maintaining his innocence and claiming that government prosecutors coerced witnesses to lie in order to win the court convictions against him.

In his final plea, the House veteran told his colleagues, “My people elected me and I don’t think you should take their representative away.”

But he added, “Vote your conscience. Nothing personal. I hope I’m back.”

Only Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif., linked to Chandra Levy, a government intern who was murdered, voted against expulsion.

“None of us ever want to sit in judgment of our peers,” said Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo. “There are some unique occasions, however, when the behavior of an elected official violates the public trust to such an extent that we are called upon to uphold this provision.”