IL House has enough evidence to punish Rep. Smith: Committee - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Last week Rep. Derrick Smith fled through the tunnels under the state capitol complex to dodge Mike Flannery's questions. But now the embattled Democratic state representative from Chicago faces another showdown, this one from his fellow lawmakers.

Members of a bipartisan special investigating committee decided there's enough evidence that Smith broke the law and that he should face trial in the House with lawmakers acting as judge and jury.

Last March federal prosecutors charged Smith with accepting a $7,000 bribe from an FBI mole to help a daycare in his district. Lawmakers say Smith's refusal to testify at the committee's hearing speaks volumes.

Smith's attorney, Victor Henderson, questions how the House will be able to give Smith a fair trial when he's months or years away from facing trial on the federal charges.

"They're clearly putting the cart before the horse," Henderson said. "All the material and important information should be out and then people should decide. There shouldn't be a rush to judgement."

Smith has refused to step down, so Democrats were forced to handpick an alternative party candidate to run against their own man.

Lance Tyson, who is running against Smith, said Smith should put his constituents first.

"Once you have this whole sense of misconduct on the table, you can't be effective," Tyson said.