Tried to involve an MP in crooked deals (7)
I believe the answer is:
sampled
'tried' is the definition.
('sample' can be a synonym of 'try')
'an mp in crooked deals' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'crooked' is an anagram indicator (a crooked or disrupted version of the letters).
'deals' with letters rearranged gives 'saled'.
'mp' inserted inside 'saled' is 'SAMPLED'.
'to involve' is the link.
(Other definitions for sampled that I've seen before include "tried" , "Tasted" .)