On Tuesday, we highlighted Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's account of how he came to fire busboy-turned-patronage-worker Tony Cole.  That evening, Stroger told WTTW's Carol Marin that he had terminated Cole as soon as he saw a background check "last week" showing his history of violence against women. As we wrote at the time, it seemed odd that the background check had taken this long to surface, considering that Cole had joined the county payroll last October. (Stroger explained that process usually takes "2-3 months," which still didn't add up.)

Then on Wednesday, Cook Co. Public Information Officer Chris Geovanis reiterated that Stroger had acted immediately once Cole's rap sheet came to light: "As soon as the administration was advised by the inspector general that Mr. Cole's interview and Mr. Cole's affidavit and the background check created clearly the basis for his termination because he was no truthful, we moved immediately to terminate him."

Now the Tribune is reporting (as Rich Miller told his Capitol Fax subscribers this morning) that the State Police actually returned the background check to the county before Christmas.  And things just get messier from there:

Today, State Police Lt. Scott Compton said the agency mailed background check results on Cole to Cook County on Dec. 20 -- nearly four months before Stroger fired Cole. (The Tribune called a different state police spokesman Monday but did not get a return call until today.)

Stroger spokesman James Ramos said today that the state police report was not received in December and suggested it could have been lost in the mail. Ramos said another request was made to state police and the agency faxed it to the county Feb. 11. Then on Apr. 2, the county inspector general issued a report on the matter. Within days, Cole was fired, he said.

Assuming this is the actual series of events, it begs yet another question: Why did it take the inspector general two months to come to the president with the information about Cole? 

Of course, Stroger denies that his comments in the media have led to any confusion:

Speaking to Stroger, [Cook Co. Commissioner Tim] Schneider referred to "the inconsistencies that have perhaps come across. . . . I would hope you would use this opportunity to clear the air."

Stroger told Schneider he was wrong.

"My answers have been consistent," he said.

Stroger then said the media had printed "half truths" on the issue.

Unbelievable.