Metro

Smith claims federal bribery rap was a racist conspiracy

ALBANY — Indicted state Sen. Malcolm Smith claims the feds went after him for allegedly trying to bribe his way onto the 2013 Republican mayoral ballot as part of a conspiracy to force out black residents from his southeast Queens district.

Smith said he would reveal who was behind the conspiracy at his retrial next year. But he is running for re-election this year.

“I can’t tell you much, but I can tell you one thing: Being an African-American who is from Queens, who is independent, who is ambitious, must have upset somebody,” Smith said at a debate Thursday night.

“Be careful who you talk to, be careful what you say, because they’ve got their eye on southeast Queens. They’re trying to shift it. The same way Harlem is no longer Harlem and Brooklyn is no longer Brooklyn.”

For those buying into his highly ­unusual defense, Smith promised to disclose “who is behind the attack on all the African-American leadership in this city” when the time is right, meaning after the polls close.

Smith faces two challengers in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary, former City Councilman Leroy Comrie and attorney Munir Avery.

Avery told The Post that Smith’s comments were off the wall.

“I think he underestimates the intelligence of the people in southeast Queens,” Avery said. “Most of the people there . . . understand his comments had no bearing on truth.”