At a hearing on Thursday, the House Select Committee on Discipline recommended expulsion from the Illinois House of Representatives for State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) for allegedly trading official favors for cash. The decision to recommend Smith’s expulsion was 11-1, and State Rep. Sid Mathias (R-Arlington Heights), a member of the bi-partisan panel, said he felt the evidence fully supported expulsion from the House.

“The evidence presented at the hearing clearly showed that Representative Smith’s actions were in direct violation of the House of Representatives’ Code of Conduct,” said Mathias. “It is a sad day for the General Assembly and for the people of Illinois, but corruption cannot be tolerated and it must be rooted out. The fact that he did not appear in person to refute the charges weighed heavily on the committee.”

On March 13, Smith was arrested on a federal bribery charge following an undercover investigation by the FBI.  According to the charge, Smith allegedly accepted a $7,000 cash bribe to write an official letter of support for a daycare center that he believed was seeking a state grant. 

“It is very disappointing that so soon after the impeachment of former Governor Rod Blagojevich, we are disciplining another elected official for misuse of their office,” said Mathias. “Legislators will be called back to Springfield to act on our recommendation, and a 2/3 vote will be required to approve the expulsion.

According to Mathias, the committee’s recommendation is the result of an internal investigation into the charges. Rep. Smith will face his official bribery charge in Federal Court.