Rep. Derrick Smith was found to have dipped into campaign funds to pay his defense team. (Photo courtesy of repderricksmith.com)

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO - A published report says indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith dipped into campaign funds to pay more than $37,000 to his defense team.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the Chicago Democrat made that expenditure in March, days after his arrest allegedly taking a $7,000 bribe from an undercover FBI informant. 

Smith disclosed the legal fees payment in a January filing with the election board. State law doesn't prohibit officials from using campaign dollars to pay for a legal defense, but does ban the use of those funds to purchase vehicles and homes. 

Prosecutors charged Smith with accepting the bribe in return for recommending a state grant to help a daycare center. 

He's denied wrongdoing but was expelled from office. Voters put him back in office. 

The trial is set for October.