State Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) is appealing to his fellow House members, asking them allow him to keep his seat and stay neutral on the issue surrounding his federal indictment on bank fraud charges. The Chicago West Side legislator, who also represents some of the western suburbs, filed a resolution in the state House today asking its members to delay judgement on the charges.

Ford was indicted yetsterday on allegations that he told Shore Bank he was using a $500,000 line of credit to rehab buildings in Chicago, but instead used the funds for personal use, including the payment of casino and credit card bills, car loans and his 2006 campaign for state rep. The lawmaker says he is innocent of the charges.