Derrick Smith
Derrick Smith

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois lawmaker’s bribery trial begins in Chicago just as his colleagues close out the last few days of the Legislature’s spring session.

Jury selection for Rep. Derrick Smith’s trial is set to start Wednesday. It typically takes two or three days to pick a jury.

The Chicago Democrat pleaded not guilty to accepting $7,000 from a day care operator seeking a state grant.

Prosecutors say the evidence includes a confession Smith made to the FBI on the day of his 2012 arrest. They say he even took agents to his house and retrieved $2,500 in cash from the foot of his bed. He allegedly said it was leftover bribe money.

Last week, the trial judge refused to delay Smith’s trial so he could finish the legislative session in Springfield.

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