Jury Selection In William Beavers' Trial Delayed
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Jury selection at the trial of a Chicago politician accused of misusing campaign funds has been delayed until next year.
Victor Henderson, one of the attorneys for Cook County Commissioner William Beavers, is suffering from acute bronchitis.
Judge James Zagel on Tuesday decided that delaying the trial for a week or so would interfere with jurors' Christmas holiday, and he decided to delay the jury selection until Jan. 31.
"I am disappointed because I wanted to get this over before Christmas," said Beavers, who predicted that he will be found not-guilty and plans to "go to Gibson's and have me a steak."
Beavers has pleaded not guilty to diverting thousands of dollars from his campaign coffers for personal use without reporting it.
Potential jurors filled out questionnaires Monday.
On Monday, Zagel agreed to cut short the proceedings due to Henderson's illness.
Jury selection typically takes a day or two, and attorneys had talked about being ready for opening statements by Tuesday.
Beavers, 77, has said he plans to testify.
He says he'll tell jurors he repaid all the money to his campaign.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Lisa Fielding Reports
