Jury seated in Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson's trial on tax fraud charges

CHICAGO (WLS) -- For the first time in decades, a sitting Chicago alderman is on trial in a federal courtroom. Jury selection began Monday in 11th Ward Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson's tax fraud trial.

With the jury now seated, opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.

SEE ALSO: Unusual defense plan for Chicago Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson

The 52-year-old alderman, who has represented the 11th Ward since 2015, arrived at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse with family and supporters Monday morning. He is facing tax fraud charges and is also accused of lying to federal regulators about the amount of money he borrowed from now defunct Washington Federal Bank for Savings.

Thompson is the nephew of former mayor Richard M. Daley and the grandson of Richard J. Daley. He's the first Daley to face a jury trial.

"There's no more powerful political family in Illinois than the Daley family," ABC7 political analyst Laura Washington said. "So this is a significant thing to have someone from that powerful place, go on trial. Especially a federal trial."

The jury picked to decide Thompson's fate includes eight women and four men. There are eight whites, three Blacks and one Hispanic.

Part of Thompson's defense is expected to be that he did not intend to falsify his taxes, but that he is just very unorganized and doesn't pay close attention to his personal finances. It's not clear if he will testify in his own defense, but there is more at stake than just his own political career or his freedom.

"If he were to go down, I think this would forever change the story of the Daley family," Washington said. "The Daley family's a political dynasty. It's been seen as an honorable, powerful, all-powerful in many ways, political dynasty. This would change that story forever."

Thompson was charged in this case last year and he has pleaded not guilty. As he left court Monday, he said he had no comment about the jury selection.

The judge told jurors that he expects this case to be in their hands a week from Tuesday.