Attorney General to McHenry County: Show Us the Special Prosecutor’s Bills

On September 23, I filed an appeal to McHenry County’s denial of my Freedom of Information request for “copes of the bills that were submitted by Special Prosecutor Tonigan,” plus for “any for consultants, investigators, or anything else submitted.”

“No, no, Cal, you can’t see those” is my summary of the reply denying my request.

And, from what I have been told by County Board members, they have not been allowed to see the bill submitted by Henry Tonigan either.

Having served as McHenry County Treasurer, in the United States Budget Bureau, on the Illinois Legislative Audit Commission and various appropriations committees, I’m trying to figure out how county decision-makers can in good faith pay bills on a “trust me” basis.

October 4th the letter you see was sent from the Public Access Counselor’s office of the Attorney General.

Signed by Assistant Attorney General Sunil Bhave on behalf of Public Access Counselor Cara Smith, the letter is a variation of

“Show me the money.”

Or at least how it was spent.

Click to enlarge any image.

“We have concluded that further inquiry (emphasis in the original) is warranted.

“FOIA does not include a Section 7(1)(c)(viii). While a prior version of FOIA included a Section (1)(c)(viii), FIA was amended on January 1, 200.

“Thus, McHenry County is directed

  • to provide us with a detailed explanation as to why it contends that the requested information falls within the purview of the purported exemption.
  • Finally, McHenry County is directed to provide us with a copy of the information responsive to Mr. Skinner’s FOIA request for us to review in determining whether any exemption claims have been property asserted.”

Within working seven days, please.

As the Laugh-In Nazi would say,

“Ver-r-r-r-r-r-y

In-ter-r-r-r-es-s-s-s-ting.”


Comments

Attorney General to McHenry County: Show Us the Special Prosecutor’s Bills — 21 Comments

  1. “Tick Tock!” Just wait, “things” are going to get even more exciting around these parts….!! The party is OVER!!!

  2. Wow, when you get the likes of David Bachmann to confirm your conspiracy theories you know your onto something. Personally, I think all the elected officials in the county, all the judges, all the Republicans and all the Democrats are in the conspiracy together (well of course, except for one independant circuit court judge candidate). They are all out to get Lou Bianchi – oh my! Then again, that’s what happens when your indicted by an independant grand jury on over twenty felonies.

  3. Cal, where are Special Prosecutor O’Connor expenditures? Have you sent a FOIA for O’Connor’s billings? Also, you should FOIA the Illinois State Police for their manpower expenditures investigating for O’Connor?

  4. ef -HaHa – The smart guys seem to have a problem with knowing what laws are in effect.
    Sally is smart and sober.

  5. Lou got a spec pros that was recommended to him, not a friend.

    Does not equate with what is going on in the Tonigan issue.

    Deflect, Deflect –

  6. If Bianchi is found guilty of using Taxpayer funded labor, facilities, etc. for his campaign, will anyone go back to find out if he or his staff chose to NOT pursue other entities or individuals who did the exact same thing? In other words, if he didn’t think it was illegal for others, perhaps he found it wasn’t illegal for him either. As in, “Oh, gosh, ‘wink wink, I don’t see yours and you don’t see mine.’ works well in the suburbs of Chicago too!”

  7. If Bianchi is found guilty of using Taxpayer funded labor, facilities, etc. for his campaign, will anyone go back to find out if he or his staff chose to NOT pursue other entities or individuals who did the exact same thing? In other words, if he didn’t think it was illegal for others, perhaps he found it wasn’t illegal for him either. As in, “Oh, gosh, ‘wink wink, I don’t see yours and you don’t see mine.’ works well in the suburbs of Chicago too!”

    I’m beginning to think that entities which don’t respond correctly to FOIA requests should be fined, penalized, etc.

  8. For Dee and Alan says: I’m beginning to think that entities which don’t respond correctly to FOIA requests should be fined, penalized, etc.

    —-

    You hit the nail on the head. That’s why the law is so weak in IL – there is no real consequence for disobeying it. The worst that can happen (and we’ve yet to see it here, I think) is that the public body can be forced to pick up the legal fees of the person demanding the release of documents that should be available. Make it a misdemeanor that can result in either the agency head or the FOIA officer being charged… better yet, make it a charge of Official Misconduct for a willful and wanton refusal – as so many of these seem to be – and have them forfeit their jobs. I’ll bet this crap would stop real quick!

  9. EM. Fantasizing again? Lou hand-picekd his “special” prosecutor in secret away from public scrutiny. That “special” prosecutor was a “close” friend of Lou’s criminal chief. You know about “close” friends. Of course, Lou’s criminal chief is the one that recommended the $68,000 gig for “Special” prosecutor O’Connor to Lou.

    Unlike Lou, Wes Pribla had no say in the selection of the special prosecutor against Bianchi. Wes is not Tonnigan’s friend. Of course, Graham and ALL of the judges in McHenry County know and respect Judge Tonnigan as the former Chief Judge of Lake/McHenry County. Probably why he was selected…because he was a highly respected judge who knows how to put personal feelings and politics aside.

  10. Just another voter, Cal previously reported that the case is under seal. Seems like the county officials are in a Catch-22. If under court seal, county official is in contempt for releasing. If not release, Il AG comes calling. Cal, why don’t you submit your FOIA to the Chief Judge since a judge sealed the case?

  11. It is ridiculous when paid officials are citing a section of law that isn’t in effect. There should be personal fines for bogus delays and obstruction such as this one.

  12. Read another interesting article on this topic. Go to http://www.firstelectricnewspaper.com/

    Thankfully we have some people that are doing the job that the print media does not want to do since they are political hacks.
    Some real reporting happening online.

  13. EM. Great FEN article. I can’t believe Lou is going to waste our tax dollars. Do the decent thing and resign! Hopefully, Chairman Koehler and GOP Chairman Tryon understand the folly in allowing Lou to continue.

  14. Allan, I do not know of any conspiracy, nor do I know Mr. Bianchi or anything about what is or is not going on there.

    But….. I certainly do know about one thing. You know Allan, the “Likes of Me” knows more about the “Likes of others” than the “Likes of them” will ever know.

    Whose fooling who Allan?

    I KNOW how this McHenry County saga will be ending!! Let me be even further clear. The issues I KNOW about, have nothing to do with Mr. Seipler’s issues nor Mr. Bianchi’s. I do NOT know either gentleman.

    I truly hope all in power in McHenry County have had their ‘camera’ ready smiles on, each and every day…… You should see some of your photos that I KNOW you don’t even know exist!

    Some great pics…….!!!

    “Say Cheese!!!”

  15. Please, please, please Mr. Bachmann – tell us another story about the local Sheriff and fanciful pending federal investigations. Your stories are always very amusing and so very very witty. Your better than C.S. Lewis.

  16. Of course Allan, how do you think I come up with such ‘fantasy!’ Thanks for play’n~

  17. Speaking of mental illness Allan…..I keep good company! I see your ‘rants’ on the NW Herald comment boards… What is your excuse???

    Ted Turner:

    His father committed suicide when Robert Edward Turner III was 24, but there was no time to mourn: The son took over and saved the family’s billboard business and grew it relentlessly. Ted Turner launched Turner Broadcast-ing, founded CNN, bought the Atlanta Braves, and sailed Courageous to victory in the America’s Cup races.

    By his 40s, Turner was worth a billion dollars. When he sold his company to Time Warner, he became its largest shareholder; by 1997, his wealth had swelled to $3.2 billion. To celebrate his good fortune,

    he gave $1 billion to the United Nations—the largest gift in its history.

    Another mogul might have regretted that generosity when Time Warner merged with America Online and his net worth tumbled, but Ted Turner just moved on to fresh ambitions, including saving the planet and raising bison.

    In his new memoir, Call Me Ted (Grand Central Publishing), the 70-year-old entrepreneur holds forth on a life of professional achievement, personal triumph, and planetary consciousness. He doesn’t shrink from the troubles he’s faced: his father’s death, his three marriages (including one to Jane Fonda),

    and his bipolar disorder.

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