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CHICAGO — the gray Chicago Democrat has compared himself with a virile hog, then-Chief Prosecutor compared to a Nazi and scooped about handling government researchers to kiss his bottom.
William Beavers you-can't-touch-me bravado will be put to the test as the former policeman-turned-politician beats a-well behaved in Illinois-path to a federal courthouse for testimony during his trial tax evasion this week.
The combative Cook County Commissioner accused of diverting more than $ 225,000 campaign cash to feed a habit of casino gambling and other personal use without notification. Jury selection began Monday and opening statements expected later this week.
With his booming voice and the 77-year-old Beavers Scaramouche persona, is by many as an artifact of the old-school Chicago politically.
"He is of a generation that felt, if you win elections, the seat not in public confidence – it's up to you if a booty from the war," said David Morrison, Illinois campaign for political reform. "You now have license looking for yourself and your family."
Beavers is also accused of not declaring that he took more than $ 68,000 to campaign money and put it in a city Fund to double the monthly pension he received for his years as Alderman to more than $ 6,000.
He pleaded not guilty to four tax-related counts, each of which carries a maximum prison sentence of three years.
There is a bit of deja vu Beavers process. It takes place in the courtroom the same as that of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich scandal. The judge is the same, like many of the defense attorneys and some of the prosecutors.
Blagojevich is a 14-year prison sentence on multiple corruption convictions, including charges that he tried to sell President Barack Obama vacated Senate seat.
A question that Beavers raises cases, says Tom Gradel, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, or Chicago politics is not as corrupt as it was in his heyday.
"Beavers was not shy about talking about his wheeling and dealing," he said. "But I don't see too much difference in the new school. Now, it's about campaign contributions, while old school can have relied on Kickback from employees. "
Politicians, he said, "on the boundaries between what is acceptable and criminal" work and are good.
"If that line is changed by law enforcement, they moved to different greyer areas – away from the clearly criminal areas," he said.
Other Illinois politicians have recently found themselves in much younger legal problems. Last month, 47-year-old Jesse Jackson Jr, hopefully once considered a new-age politician, resigned from Congress amid an investigation of his campaign finances.
Lawyers Sam Adam Jr. is a beaver, which Blagojevich of lead lawyer at the Democratic Governor was first corruption process. That process ended with the jury deadlocked on all but a burden, leads to a second decisive process.
Adam's penchant for showmanship and rejoice in verbal brawling meshes well with beavers image with the public.
Beavers most well-known rhetorical flourish came several years ago when he offered a favorable assessment of his own influence by calling themselves "a pig with large nuts."
He has a wilt flower hardly proven since his indictment in February.
Within minutes of entering a not guilty plea, he walked up to the lobby of Chicago's federal courthouse and then-U.s. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of using "Gestapo-like tactics" accused to win convictions. Fitzgerald, responsible for the indictment of Blagojevich and dozens of other Illinois politicians, was pulled back in the summer to private practice.
Beavers has said he in an act of retaliation was indicted by researchers for refusing to wear a wire against another county Commissioner, John Daley, the brother of former Mayor of Chicago Richard m. Daley. U.s. District Judge James Zagel barred defense attorneys of broaching impeachment during the process.
Zagel said that she could put the money in question eventually paid back Beavers and his return changed after he learned that he was from the investigation. However, Zagel said this claim admissible only if it came from mouth on the witnesses would be Beavers bank.
As he left court Monday, told reporters that Beavers he would testify. "No doubt about it," he said.
Gradel, think for a, not Beavers gushing confidence will play well with members of the jury.
"He is glib and still may think the world is so accept as it was 30 or 40 years ago for this problem," he said. "The public is not so (intolerant of corruption) if I would want them to be. But they are not as tolerant as they were. "
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Michael Tarm follow on http://www.twitter.com/mtarm
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