SPRINGFIELD (AP) – It’s too early for the Legislature to take any action over the indictment of a state representative on federal bank fraud charges, the Illinois House Republican leader said Friday.

Chicago Democrat La Shawn Ford, meanwhile, made a plea for his colleagues to allow him to continue to serve. Ford was indicted Thursday, becoming the second member of the House to face federal charges this year.

“I hope that my constituents will continue to accept me as their state representative,” Ford said Friday in a written statement after he filed a House resolution asking fellow legislators to remain neutral in the matter.