An Illinois House committee hearing into a lawmaker accused of bribery is on hold while committee members wait to find out how far they can go without interfering with an ongoing federal investigation.
A bipartisan committee of six lawmakers is looking into allegations that Representative Derrick Smith accepted a seven-thousand-dollar bribe in order to intervene on behalf of a day care center seeking a state grant.
The hearing is the first step toward Smith’s possible removal from office. But lawmakers say they want to make sure their inquiry does not disrupt the criminal case against Smith. Smith chose not to attend Tuesday’s hearing at the Capitol.
