Indicted state Rep. Smith shows up for House session

Story Image

State representative Derrick Smith is shown leaving the Federal Building last month after he was charged with one count of accepting a bribe. | TOM CRUZE~Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD — Defying calls for his resignation, indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith finally showed up for work Tuesday in the Illinois House, where he strode onto the House floor, was greeted by several well-wishers and would say only “no comment” when asked about his legal troubles.

His presence surprised House Speaker Michael Madigan’s staffers, who had predicted just an hour before the session opened Tuesday that the West Side Democrat would stay away from Springfield this week.

Smith — who was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on a bribery charge — spent part of Tuesday’s session in his seat, where a few colleagues approached with hands extended. Later, a smiling Smith worked the Democratic side of the aisle.

“I greeted him because he’s here to represent the people who elected him,” said Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago). “I just told him God bless him. He’s got some challenging days ahead of him.”

When the session ended, Smith went out a back way rather than through the front entrance of the chamber, where a crush of news cameras were waiting.

Smith tried unsuccessfully to evade two reporters, walking down three flights of stairs, entering an unused committee room and, on emerging, appearing to consider going outside through doors at the Capitol that would have triggered an alarm until being alerted to that by a reporter.

Asked if he was pleased by the reception he got on his return to Springfield, Smith issued the first in a string of “No comments.”

The answer was the same when asked if he believes he’s innocent; whether he intends to attend every day of the legislative session; what he thinks about House members contemplating taking steps to remove him from office; and whether he plans to testify before the committee contemplating that action if asked.

Smith had been a no-show at the Capitol since his March 13 arrest on a federal bribery charge stemming from an undercover FBI sting operation.

He was formally indicted on that charge last week after authorities said he accepted $7,000 in cash in exchange for writing a letter on behalf of a daycare center in his district that he believed was seeking a $50,000 state grant.

A special House panel weighing whether there’s cause to sanction Smith is awaiting a response from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office on whether its work would interfere with the criminal probe into Smith and whether the prosecutor’s office will provide the panel evidence it’s developed.

Smith’s presence Tuesday drew criticism from state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), who has called for Madigan to suspend Smith from all committee posts. Franks said Smith’s attendance brought a “taint” to the entire House.

“I want to end the thought process in this state where this is business as usual and it’s accepted, and it’s just another guy who got indicted,” Franks said. “This would not be accepted anywhere else, except maybe Louisiana. We need to reclaim the moral high ground.”

http://www.suntimes.com/news/11960826-418/indicted-state-rep-smith-...

Views: 38

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis favorited Doc Vega's blog post One of Many Witnesses to the JFK Assassination Not Listed in the Warren Report
7 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

One of Many Witnesses to the JFK Assassination Not Listed in the Warren Report

In an interview by Attorney Mark Lane James Leon Simmons, a railroad worker, who like many…See More
11 hours ago
Burbia commented on KLC's group MUSICWARS
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Unnerving Frequency of Disappearances on the Appalachian Trail Pt. 1

There’s another one of the cluster zones of missing persons reports that fails to render the…See More
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

Waste runs deep

"Make USAID - go away."
yesterday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Wednesday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

$ Paid Annual Leave $

"Now is the Time for American Workers to Unite! Take back the squandered taxes and demand time off…"
Monday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Monday
Burbia commented on Burbia's blog post Mystery illness strikes Russia with fever, blood symptoms, and no cure in sight.
Monday
Burbia posted a blog post

Mystery illness strikes Russia with fever, blood symptoms, and no cure in sight.

I guess releasing this bio-weapon upon Israeli neighbors would be hitting too close to home. I…See More
Monday
tjdavis posted videos
Monday
tjdavis posted a video

The Electric State | Final Trailer | Netflix

Together, robots & humans can take the whole system down. THE ELECTRIC STATE starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt and directed by the Russo Brothers, onl...
Sunday
Less Prone favorited Sandy's video
Saturday
Doc Vega's 7 blog posts were featured
Saturday
tjdavis's blog post was featured
Saturday
Sandy posted a video

"Mommy Tells Me I'm a Girl"-Jeff Younger

Soft White Underbelly interview and portrait of Jeff Younger, a father who is fighting to protect his son from transitioning into a girl. Get 40% off access ...
Saturday
tjdavis posted a video

MindWar: Full Spectrum Cognitive Dominance [Michael Aquino Analysis]

This is my analysis and my thoughts on Michael Aquino's "MindWar". This document is a must-read if you are looking to understand the psyop tactics and cognit...
Mar 28
Doc Vega posted a blog post

A Horrid Murder at Land Between the Lakes (Sasquatch?)

 Most of us hear that Sasquatch-Bigfoot are intelligent yet reclusive creatures that are closely…See More
Mar 28
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Mar 27
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's video
Thumbnail

Metropolis (1927) Full Movie | 4K Color Remastered: 2023 Colorized with Gottfried Huppertz Score

"Hey thanks for the thumbs up guys. I was blown away (like a leaf in a tornado) when I watched this…"
Mar 27

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted