Feds subpoenaed Illinois election board in Beavers probe

Feds subpoenaed Illinois election board in Beavers probe

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Updated at 2:45 p.m.

The Illinois State Board of Elections received two subpoenas - including one earlier this month - from federal prosecutors during their investigation of Cook County Commissioner William Beavers. The longtime Democrat’s indictment on federal tax charges was announced Thursday by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The indictment alleges Beavers used campaign money for personal use, but didn’t pay federal tax on all that income. Prosecutors also say Beavers lied to his campaign treasurers, leading them to file false campaign finance reports with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

While investigating Beavers, the U.S. Attorney’s office issued two subpoenas to the board of elections. The board released the documents Friday in response to WBEZ’s request under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

The most recent subpoena, dates Feb. 7, 2012, requested “any and all documents” regarding Beavers or the three campaign committees he controls. The subpoena covered documents from July 2009 to the end of 2011, and included campaign disclosure filings filed by the committees, plus “[a]ll work-papers, notes, papers, memoranda and correspondence received or prepared by [the election board] relative to the preparation or review of the aforementioned reports.”

The earlier subpoena, dated July 9, 2009, made the same request for all earlier documents filed by Beavers and his three committees.

The indictment released Thursday concerned income taxes from 2006 to 2008.

Beaver’s indictment also alleged he tapped his county discretionary fund for personal use without disclosing that on his income tax returns. WGN News and the Better Government Association previously reported that prosecutors subpoenaed those records from Cook County.

Beavers has told media outlets that he paid his taxes. He claimed the feds only went after him because he refused to wear a wire.