An indicted state lawmaker is refusing to step down, saying that his constituents did not abandon him and he won’t abandon them. Derrick Smith appeared before an Illinois House committee which is considering whether to proceed with a process that could lead to Smith’s expulsion from the chamber. The Chicago Democrat refused to answer questions about the bribery charges against him, but his lawyer told committee members that they shouldn’t automatically put faith in the federal indictment, because prosecutors are sometimes dishonest or make mistakes.
