Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th) was supposed to let her lawyer do the talking at what turned out to be a raucous City Hall news conference Thursday, but she couldn’t resist.
“I know you want to hear me,” a defiant Troutman said, three days after federal prosecutors charged her with bribery. “I have been an upstanding alderman for 17 years. I have fought on behalf of the people, not just of the 20th Ward, but on behalf of all the people of the city of Chicago.”
After taking credit for her efforts to promote development of affordable housing and increase the number of jobs and contracts for African-Americans, Troutman said she plans to be around for more of the same as she seeks re-election in February.
“I will still continue to fight for my people and this city and the 20th Ward and stand strong,” she declared.
Troutman was accompanied by her lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., and about 50 clapping, chanting backers who shouted their support as she spoke.
The news conference was opened by Rev. John Ellis of Providence House, a social service organization, who read from Psalm 18: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength in whom I trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
“And parenthetically I might note, according to due process, you are not guilty,” he said. “You are innocent. All of you are innocent until decided otherwise by due process, not the press.”
Prosecutors have charged that Troutman was caught during a federal sting taking money to help clear the way for a South Side real estate development.
“She is champing at the bit to tell you what I have been telling you: that she is not guilty, that she did not do these things, that she never took any money to do anything illegal,” said Adam, who had instructed his client not to discuss specifics of the case.
“Ald. Troutman will be there in the 20th Ward doing what she did last year and 16 years previous–representing the 20th Ward.
“So any challengers, all of you out there … bring your A game because Ald. Troutman is back,” Adam said.
“I am bringing my A game,” shot back David Neely, one of her challengers, who showed up for the news conference. “I will be the alderman of the 20th Ward,” he said as the Troutman supporters booed.
“The people of the 20th Ward have been neglected,” Neely said later. “The alderman works for the people of the 20th Ward, not for gangbangers, not for drug dealers, not for criminals.”
Troutman landed in the spotlight in 2004 when it became public that she had an association with Donnell “Scandalous” Jehan, an alleged Black Disciples gang leader whom police are seeking on drug conspiracy charges.
The alderman denied any wrongdoing in her dealings with Jehan.
Prosecutors contend Troutman was paid $5,000 in the real estate sting with the promise of another $10,000 even as she discussed getting a free condominium and commercial space in the proposed project.
Neely, a lawyer, said that if he is elected, he will propose term limits so aldermen “would not have an opportunity to engage in this type of corruption.”
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gwashburn@tribune.com
