The Illinois House Select Committee on Discipline voted 11-1 yesterday to expel State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago), who is under federal investigation for accepting a bribe. At least 79 of the 118 members in the Illinois House must vote for expulsion to push Smith out the door.

Smith did not appear before the committee, which State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) said amounted to a tacit admission of guilt. But Smith's attorney, Victor Henderson, said the no show was because his client did not want to say anything federal prosecutors could use in their criminal case. Smith has been mostly silent since federal agents arrested him in March for allegedly taking a $7,500 bribe.