Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner, who is facing charges that he accepted a $1,000 bribe and lying about it, appeared at the first meeting of the council since his arrest on Wednesday, the Boston Globe reports.

Turner, a Roxbury member of the Green-Rainbow Party, told the council that he understood Council President Maureen Feeney has the power to strip him of his committee assignments, as she did, but that he disagrees with the decision, according to the Globe.

The Globe also reports that Turner focused his remarks on Feeney's decision to convene a meeting of the Rules Committee if Turner is indicted to discuss whether the Council should push to remove Turner from his seat.

"There's little doubt that I will be indicted," Turner said, according to the Globe. "Because of the restrictions imposed on me by [US Magistrate] Judge [Timothy] Hillman, I cannot defend myself against any action you may choose to take."

Hillman, Turner said, has ruled that Turner cannot speak to his colleagues on the Council about the investigation. The Globe also notes that only Councilor Charles Yancey spoke in Turner's defense. "I believe we should assume innocence rather than guilt," Yancey said.