One Down

With all the investigating and convicting going on these days, the case against the Hispanic Democratic Organization and its leadership hasn't been in the news much lately. With George Ryan out the way, the feds can get back to taking down the Chicago Machine. The first casualty of what will likely be many in that case came yesterday, with John Resa, an HDO coordinator who controlled some 70 city jobs, getting 15 months in prison for lying to a federal grand jury.

Resa was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony about the HDO in an investigation stemming from the Hired Trucks scandal. The only way that Resa could wind up in prison was to lie to the grand jury, which he did when he testified last year that he never helped political workers get jobs or promotions with the city. According to the feds, when Resa wanted to reward political workers for their help, he went to former Streets and Sanitation Commissioner and HDO leader Al Sanchez. Sanchez was indicted on federal fraud charges earlier this year. Rumor on the Southeast Side is that he's is singing like a canary. Combined with the conviction of Resa, the whole HDO could come crashing down, leaving Daley vulnerable, both legally and politically.