CHICAGO – An influential Cook County commissioner facing federal tax charges told reporters Thursday he has proof he paid back money borrowed from his campaign and never sought to evade payments to the IRS.

William Beavers and his attorneys spoke at a Thursday news conference, passing out copies of a Park National Bank deposit slip dated May 29, 2009, in the amount of $68,000 – one of the sums federal prosecutors alleged Beavers illegally used from his campaign.

“I’m not a criminal and haven’t stolen a dime,” the Chicago Democrat said.