"He has to speak on behalf of himself. I've known the family for many, many years," Daley said after a peace rally. "He has to get out there and be able to explain that to everyone in Cook County."

(When it's come to his own administration, Daley has not followed his own advice. The mayor has not detailed numerous City Hall hiring scandals over the years when pressed by reporters.)

Stroger has been buffeted by a patronage hiring scandal that led him to dump his cousin, Donna Dunnings, from the county's top financial post.

Stroger hired Tony Cole, a troubled steakhouse busboy with sex assault charges in his past, for a country patronge job last fall. The Stroger administration twice promoted Cole despite his history. Dunnings twice bailed Cole out of county jail after he was arrested on charges he violated an order of protection.

Stroger fired Cole earlier this month when he said he first learned Cole did not report a prior conviction on his job application. Then Stroger dumped Dunnings, saying it would be tough for her to do the job because Cole might make unspecified "explosive" allegations against her.

On Thursday, Stroger maintained he has given consistent answers about the Cole case, even as new information cast doubt on his administration's version of events.

Stroger aides said they got an FBI report Nov. 20 that showed Cole lied about at least two previous criminal convictions on his application, meaning the administration should have known months before Cole was fired. And Illinois State Police, who Stroger sought to blame for a delay in a background check, said they mailed a final background check on Cole to the county on Dec. 20. Stroger aides said it might have been "lost in the mail."

County commissioners pressed Stroger to clear the air on what they said were inconsistencies in Stroger's story.

The Stroger saga is playing out as a re-election campaign looms.

On Saturday, when asked if he supports Stroger for re-election next year, Daley replied: "I don't know if he's running at all so let's not jump to conclusions."

Stroger's camp frequently has said Stroger will seek a second term next year. Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) and County Commissioner Forest Claypool (D-Chicago) could challenge Stroger in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, a onetime Democrat, and state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine are weighing bids for county board chairman.

Tribune reporter Lolly Bowean contributed to this report.