|
|
Posted: Tuesday, 28 April 2009 9:28AM
Report: State's Atty investigates Stroger/Cole hiring scandal
|
CHICAGO (CBS) ― The Cook County State's Attorney's office reportedly is investigating the hiring scandal surrounding Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.
The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday morning that the county has received subpoenas in connection with an investigation into the hiring of Tony Cole, a county patronage employee who was fired after Stroger found out he failed to disclose a felony conviction.
Stroger lifted Cole, a former University of Georgia basketball star, out of a busboy job at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and placed him in a $48,000-a-year executive assistant position in the County Building. Soon Cole got a raise to $58,000 annually. He later got a raise to $61,000 a year working in human resources.
County officials reportedly knew back in February that Cole had lied on his application, but he was promoted twice after that.
Cole was mentored by Stroger's cousin and former Chief Financial Officer, Donna Dunnings, who approved his promotion to the $61,000 job, and also bailed Cole out of jail twice. Some county employees said Dunnings and Cole were in a romantic relationship, although Dunnings denied the claim.
Stroger fired Dunnings after the revelations about Cole, saying he wanted to protect her because the controversy would be the subject of a "media circus" and attention from opponents on the County Board.
Cole is now in trouble again, awaiting trial for violating an order of protection filed by the woman he allegedly attacked.
|
Copyright MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
E-Mail Story
Print Story
