Beavers Says He Was Indicted On Tax Fraud Because He's Not A Snitch
By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 24, 2012 5:00PM
William Beavers
To hear Beavers tell it, however, he wouldn't have been indicted at all if he decided to wear a wire. Beavers claimed federal investigators approached him about wearing a wire to record fellow commissioner John Daley. "The Hog With the Big Nuts" told the Tribune he refused. "I'm too old to be a stool pigeon," he said.
On the surface, this reads as a bit of a deflection by Beavers; it's well known that he and Daley, the powerful chair of the Cook County Board Finance committee, aren't bosom buddies. Daley said he had no idea why Beavers tried to drag him into this. “The story is about Bill Beavers’ indictment — that’s what the story is and only that,” Daley said.
Beavers also claimed he had no idea why feds would want him to wear a wire and squeal on Daley.
“How do I know? I don’t know. I don’t even know John Daley that well. I told them I’m too old to be a stool pigeon. S---. And when I’m ready to confess, I’ll go to confession — that’s what I told them. I have an attorney.”
The case levied against Beavers was two years in the making. Federal authorities subpoenaed his expense account reports documenting how he spent his $1,200-per-month stipend allowed him and other county commissioners by the county. Beavers attempted to deflect blame on this, as well. He said the county never sent him a 1099 form on the accounts.
U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald responded to the indictment yesterday.
"Obviously as we head into tax season we're trying to increase vigilance about taxes and it's particularly important that public officials, if they use campaign funds for personal reasons, they owe taxes like everybody else and they have an obligation to declare their income on their tax returns accurately and that's what's alleged, he knowingly failed to do in this case."
Some county commissioners are reacting to Beavers's indictment. Larry Suffredin, whom Beavers has called an "idiot" and a "misfit" over the years, said Beavers's "time has passed.
Beavers called the charges against him "horseshit."