Daley political worker pleads guilty

CLOUT ON WHEELS A Sun-Times Special Report follow-up

John Resa, 49, a City of Chicago employee active in a political group that supported candidates backed by Mayor Daley, pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to a grand jury. He could face up to five years.

Resa oversaw 70 "volunteers" in the Hispanic Democratic Organization, a group set up by Daley's political advisers to work in races around the city.

Resa oversaw 70 "volunteers" in the Hispanic Democratic Organization, a group set up by Daley's political advisers to work in races around the city.

Resa told the grand jury he lied to the "volunteers" about getting them jobs or promotions. But in court Wednesday, he admitted he was lying to the grand jury.

Resa told the grand jury he lied to the "volunteers" about getting them jobs or promotions. But in court Wednesday, he admitted he was lying to the grand jury.

His pretrial services officer said Resa tested positive for cocaine Aug. 7.

In a Sun-Times story Oct. 19, Resa identified himself as a "hoisting engineer" but admitted he wasn't doing much hoisting because of an injury to his back and neck. Resa was a beneficiary of a disability policy that allowed him to collect more than $119,000 from the city and more than $23,000 from a city pension fund for his injury, in his second claim against the city.