Beavers Judge: Prosecution Can Mention 2005 Taxes

A federal judge overseeing a Cook County commissioner's tax-evasion trial has ruled prosecutors can tell jurors about one of the commissioner's earlier tax filings.

Jury selection started Tuesday in William Beavers' trial. He pleaded not guilty to diverting campaign funds for personal use and not reporting it from 2006 through 2008.

Judge James Zagel says prosecutors can broach a 2005 return that included a letter in which Beavers acknowledges $43,000 in campaign money is income. Zagel says it goes to prosecutors' argument Beavers understood the requirement to report such money.

Prosecutors also revealed Tuesday that Beavers was paying his 2005 taxes in $500 monthly installments. They argue that sheds light on his motive for allegedly trying to evade tax payments later.

Zagel told attorneys he'd question would-be jurors by 1 p.m. A jury should be impaneled in the commissioner's case by Wednesday.

The trial at federal court in Chicago resumed Monday after a three-month delay to let a defense attorney recover from illness.

The trial is expected to last about two weeks but could be extended if Beavers takes the stand.

Copyright Associated Press