Ex-police cmdr. says he didn't lie about torture

The former Chicago police commander at the center of allegations that officers tortured suspects into confessing has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied about the torture.

An attorney for Jon Burge entered the not guilty plea to charges of obstruction of justice and perjury on his behalf. U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow set a trial date of May 11.

Prosecutors claim Burge lied under oath on written answers in a civil rights lawsuit five years ago.

Two years ago, special prosecutors found that scores of suspects were seriously abused at the violent crimes unit under Burge's command in the 1970s and 80s. But they said it happened so long ago that criminal charges weren't possible.

Burge was fired in 1993.