Judge wants Beavers trial before year’s end

The federal judge overseeing the tax case of an influential Chicago politician says he wants the trial to start before the end of the year.

At a status hearing Wednesday for Cook County Commissioner William Beavers, Judge James Zagel told attorneys they should prepare for a November or December trial date.

Beavers has pleaded not guilty to diverting money from campaign accounts and a county commissioner’s stipend for personal use without reporting it as income.

Prosecutors told Zagel they’d be ready for a September trial. But Beavers attorney Aaron Goldstein says the defense needs more time.

Goldstein also says he wants prosecutors to turn over FBI notes of their interview with Beavers. Zagel says he’ll go through them to see if they might contain anything relevant to the defense.