CHICAGO – A prosecutor told jurors at an influential Chicago Democrat's tax evasion trial Thursday that he spent thousands from his campaign coffers at a casino, falsely declaring he'd spent it on campaign signs.

The accusation came during opening statements at William Beavers' trial, where a defense attorney fired back later that the 78-year-old Cook County commissioner viewed the money as loans and eventually paid back most of it back.

"He didn't violate anything – except being the best commissioner he could be," Beavers' lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., told jurors.