FOX5 CHICAGO: Gov. Quinn and other Democratic leaders renewing their calls for state Rep. Derrick Smith to step aside now that he has been indicted on bribery charges. He’s accused of taking a bribe from a federal agent, posing as a daycare business seeking a grant, or posing as part of that business. The leader of a special House committee told Fox Chicago News the committee may not have enough evidence to expel Smith from the General Assembly.

Democratic Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, the investigative committee’s chair, contended the allegations against Smith represented a “gross breach of public trust” but he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. …

Smith was charged one week before the March 20 primary with taking a $7,000 cash bribe in a federal sting. Prosecutors said Smith agreed to the bribe in return for writing a favorable letter to state officials in support of a grant for a day-care center. Federal authorities had created a [fictitious] center as part of the sting, which involved an undercover informant.

Smith won the primary with 77 percent of the vote. …

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, had pumped $60,000 into Smith’s election before the arrest. He has since declined comment on whether Smith should step down, citing his leadership position over the House investigation.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Perhaps the most audacious plea came from West Side Democratic elected officials who urged voters to support an Illinois House member charged with bribery. It looks bad, they acknowledged, but it will prevent the seat from falling into the hands of Republicans.

The rally in support of appointed state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) featured U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), three aldermen and a county commissioner and even adopted a catchy moniker: “No defeat or retreat — keep the Dem seat.” …

Smith was arrested last week by federal prosecutors after being secretly recorded while allegedly accepting a $7,000 bribe in exchange for writing a letter of support for a daycare center seeking a $50,000 state grant.

ANCHOR: Smith is accused of accepting a $7,000 cash bribe from a daycare center that he believed was seeking a state grant. The deal was actually a ruse by federal agents, begun in December, after one of Smith’s campaign staffers came to the FBI and began working undercover.

ANCHOR: According to this criminal complaint, Smith told the informant he was trying to think of the best way to keep the bribe exchange clean. “I don’t want no trace of it,” Smith allegedly said, referring to the bribe. The informant asked if cash would be okay, Smith replied, “Yeah, I don’t want no trace of it.” When told the bribe had been delivered, Smith is said to have commented, “Okay, just leave it in the envelope.”

ANCHOR: The FBI used Youtube videos of Smith for voice comparisons to match undercover tapes. Smith was appointed a year ago to fill a 10th district vacancy and is currently running for election. Today when ABC7’s Ben Bradley tried to speak with Smith’s staffers, he was pushed out the door fo the public official’s West Side office.

ANCHOR: Smith’s opponent, however, was delighted to comment.

TOM SWISS: What I’d like to do is see him step down right now. I think that he has a consistent pattern of unethical behavior and he shouldn’t be on the ballot and run for state representative.

ANCHOR: Mr. Smith has been running hard, with a major fundraiser just last night, featuring Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Smith worked for White’s office before joining the Illinois General Assembly. In this brief statement released a few minutes ago, Sec. White says, “I am very disappointed with the conduct alleged in the charges. I am confident this case will be handled fairly and justly by the judicial system.”

ANCHOR: Sec. White actually chaired the panel that selected White last year and called him an “honest, stand-up kind of guy.” Prior to state government, the 48-year-old Smith worked for Chicago Streets and Sanitation until he was fired, following allegations he used city workers to do private landscaping. Smith’s campaign is backed by the state Democratic organization and Speaker Mike Matigan who have pumped tens of thousands of dollars into Smith’s campaign. Rep. Smith has just bonded out at federal court.