Jan 11, 2007 7:13 pm US/Central
Bribery Scandal Won't Stop Troutman From Running
Alderman Receives Cold Reception From Some Colleagues Thursday At City Hall
Associated Press contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Federal bribery charges won't stop an embattled Chicago alderman from running for re-election next month.
More than two dozen chanting supporters surrounded Alderman Arenda Troutman at City Hall Thursday as she pledged to continue working for the residents of her 20th ward.
Federal prosecutors accuse Troutman of accepting $5,000 and the promise of more money to help a fictitious developer move forward on a building project.
Troutman's attorney, Sam Adam Jr., continued to assert her innocence and issued a challenge to her opponents today. He told them to bring their "A-game" because Troutman is back.
She promised to stand strong two days after being busted by federal agents on bribery charges.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that despite her arrest, Troutman is still the leading candidate in the 20th ward.
After Troutman greeted supporters who had been invited to the event, a clergyman recited a prayer, concluding with a reminder to reporters.
"You are innocent, you, you, you all of you are innocent until decided by due process and not the press," the priest said.
While the alderman would not discuss any aspect of the bribery and corruption charges federal prosecutors have filed against her, she vowed to keep running for a sixth term.
"I've been an upstanding alderman for 17 years," Troutman said.
One of several challengers she faces in next month's election crashed the raucous news conference.
"If we had term limits in the City of Chicago, aldermen would not have the opportunity to engage in this type of corruption," said Troutman challenger David Neely.
The alderman's lawyer criticized prosecutors, accusing them of taking secretly recorded conversations out of context.
"It's cut, paste, cut, paste...we have no idea what the context those statements were in we have no idea what the statement was prior to that," said Sam Adams Jr.
"I have fought. I have fought on behalf of the people not just the 20th Ward but on behalf of all the people in the City of Chicago," Troutman said.
Arriving about half an hour after the City Council meeting had begun, Troutman was soon talking earnestly to her colleagues, one at a time.
Troutman was received politely but coldly by some on the Council floor.
Several were infuriated when federal investigators claimed Troutman had compared most aldermen to prostitutes during a conversation she did not know was being recorded.
"It's unfortunate. It's a reminder to [keep on the] straight and narrow do the right thing," said Ald. Joe Moore (49th).
Troutman would lose her City Council seat if she's convicted.
The Chicago city election is Feb. 27
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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