Prosecutors say Smith made those comments before an attorney entered the room. And even then, they say, the federal prosecutor did not negotiate a plea deal with him.
Smith was appointed to the Illinois House in 2011. The agents write Smith was “going crazy” about a primary challenger he faced in the March 2012 election. They say Smith told them he did not want to lose the election, but needed money to pay campaign workers so they would stay loyal to his campaign.
Smith, who represents parts of Chicago’s West and North sides, defeated Tom Swiss in the 2012 Democratic primary. Other Democrats had encouraged primary voters to support Smith despite his arrest, claiming that Swiss was a Republican running as a Democrat.
After Smith won the primary, Illinois House members voted to expel him from the chamber — in an act that had not been done in 100 years. But Smith had already won the primary, remained on the ballot and won election back to the state House that November.
Smith, however, will not be returning to Springfield next year. He lost his bid for another term in office to attorney Pamela Reaves-Harris in the Democratic primary last month.
Article Appeared @http://www.wbez.org/news/fbi-agents-say-indicted-state-rep-took-them-get-bribe-cash-110027