Stephen Nodine Murder: 7 Other Politicians Elected to Office After Serving Time

Former Alabama politician Stephen Nodine is considering running for Congress from a jail cell.

Nodine was the Mobile County commissioner, who was on trial for three years for the alleged murder of his mistress. The jury failed to reach a verdict in his murder case and the politician currently serves time in jail after accepting a plea bargain to lesser charges. He has long defended his innocence, especially on social media. Despite his jail sentence, Nodine would still like to run for the vacant congressional seat once held by Rep. Jo. Bonner, asking Alabamans for a "second chance."

In light of Nodine's unfortunate situation, here is a breakdown of seven other colorful politicians that were elected after being imprisoned, or while serving jailtime.

1. Senator Larry Craig of Idaho:

Senator Larry Craig of Idaho finished out his Senate term after being arrested by an undercover cop for lewd conduct in a men's restroom in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. 

2. Majority Leader Tommy Burnett:

As Majority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Burnett was convicted of willfully failing to file federal income tax returns in 1983. He served 10 months in prison, and while at a prison camp on an Army base was re-elected to the Tennessee House with 60% of the vote.

3. Hugo Chavez:

The late Hugo Chavez led an unsuccessful coup d’etat for which he was imprisoned in 1992. Once released, he formed a socialist political party and was elected president of Venezuela in 1998.

4. D.C. Mayor Marion Barry:

In January 1990, former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry was videotaped smoking crack cocaine and subsequently arrested by FBI agents. He now currently serves as a council member in the District.

5. Nelson Mandela:

In 1964, South African activist Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison. In 1990, after 27 years of jailtime, he was released, embarked upon a world tour meeting foreign leaders, won a Nobel Peace Prize, and became the first black president of the Republic of South Africa in 1994.

6. Boston Mayor James Curley:

This former mayor of Boston, Massachusetts also served twice in the House, and was elected to Boston's Board of Aldermen in 1904 while in jail for a fraud conviction. Apparently, he and an associate took exams for two men in their district in order to get them government jobs. This garnered loyalty and boosted his rep. and among working class Irish Americans at the time, earning him his place on the board.

7. Adolf Hitler

Before Hitler was der Führer, he was a WWI veteran who attempted a coup d'etat in Munich in 1923. When the coup failed and Hitler was imprisoned, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). He was released from prison in 1924, gained popularity and the position of chancellor in 1933, and well, you know the rest.