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Illinois panel votes to expel indicted lawmaker from legislature
(Reuters) - A lawmaker from Chicago who has been indicted for bribery but has refused to resign his seat should be expelled from the Illinois Legislature, a special investigative panel recommended on Thursday.
State House Representative Derrick Smith was arrested in March and charged with accepting a $7,000 bribe in exchange for endorsing a daycare center's state grant application.
Days after he was arrested and indicted, Smith won the Democratic Party primary for re-election over token Republican opposition, in part because some Democrats hoped he would resign and be replaced on the November ballot.
But Smith refused to bow out voluntarily, and on Thursday a special investigative committee of the Illinois House voted 11-1 to recommend the expulsion.
Smith has denied the charges. His lawyer called the vote a "political decision."
State House Representative Derrick Smith was arrested in March and charged with accepting a $7,000 bribe in exchange for endorsing a daycare center's state grant application.
Days after he was arrested and indicted, Smith won the Democratic Party primary for re-election over token Republican opposition, in part because some Democrats hoped he would resign and be replaced on the November ballot.
But Smith refused to bow out voluntarily, and on Thursday a special investigative committee of the Illinois House voted 11-1 to recommend the expulsion.
Smith has denied the charges. His lawyer called the vote a "political decision."
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/20/us-usa-politics-illinois-idUSBRE86J01220120720
