Jurors begin deliberations in lawmaker's trial
Jurors in state Rep. Derrick Smith's bribery trial have gone home after deliberating briefly.
The panelists sat through several hours of closing arguments Monday before withdrawing to a jury room to start going through the evidence.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sent them home in the evening and told them to pick up where they left off Tuesday morning.
The 50-year-old Smith is accused of taking a $7,000 bribe from a purported day care operator seeking a state grant. It all turned out to be part of an FBI sting.
Prosecutors say tape recordings of Smith made by a campaign worker-turned-informant proved the bribery charge. The defense say the informant "set up" the Chicago Democrat and that Smith never committed a crime.
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