With election in the bag, Chicago Dems now trying to ouster their own crooked candidate

As I mentioned yesterday, Democrats in Chicago celebrated the re-election of Rep. Derrick Smith, the state lawmaker who got arrested after accepting a bribe from undercover federal agents.  Just days later, party leaders are working to ouster Smith from office now that the seat is securely in the hands of Democrats:

Gov. Pat Quinn and other leading Democrats called today for the resignation of a state lawmaker from Chicago who won a House primary one week after being arrested on federal bribery charges.

The growing pressure on state Rep. Derrick Smith contrasts with the silence from Democratic leaders who avoided such criticism in the days after the arrest, when it might have affected his primary race.

Some, including U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, encouraged voters to support Smith to ensure the West Side seat stays in Democratic hands. But that changed the day after his easy victory over Tom Swiss, a former Cook County Republican Party official.

Now Democratic leaders are moving to oust Smith and pick a replacement to run in the November general election.

Smith was selected to fill a House vacancy while he was working for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who called today for Smith's resignation.

"The allegations in the charge against him convey unacceptable conduct, making it extremely difficult to represent the citizens of the district," White said. "The public would be much better served if Derrick were to step down."

Also as I said yesterday: Only in Chicagoland...