Closing arguments made at Illinois lawmaker trial

Published



CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois lawmaker placed his own welfare above his constituents by taking a $7,000 bribe from a purported day care operator seeking a state grant, a prosecutor said during closing arguments Monday.

An attorney for Rep. Derrick Smith, however, told jurors a campaign worker-turned-informant hoodwinked the Chicago Democrat to justify cooperation payments from his FBI handlers.

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