Feds Charges Jack Franks’ Fishing Buddy, Contributor Chicago Alderman Ed Burke with Attempted Extortion

Here’s what the Chicago Tribune is reporting: BREAKING NEWS Feds charge powerful Ald. Edward Burke with corruption Jason Meisner Longtime Ald. Edward Burke, one of Chicago’s most powerful figures and a vestige of the city’s old Democratic machine, has been … Continue reading

Bianchi Suit Against Special Prosecutor McQueen Reinstated by Appellate Court

Your homework for today is to read the 2nd Appellate Court decision reinstating McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s suit against one of the Special Prosecutors who indicted him on criminal charges that were so weak that they were tossed … Continue reading

Judge Gordon Graham Retiring

McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Gordon Graham has informed court officials that he is retiring on September 7th. In 2010, Graham ran for and won the office. He won the GOP primary election without opposition. Then, up popped Sally Wiggins, … Continue reading

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted for Way Totaling in Excess of $1.7 Million in Payments Made in Criminal Extortion

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: FORMER SPEAKER OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CHARGED WITH STRUCTURING CASH WITHDRAWALS TO EVADE CURRENCY TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND MAKING FALSE STATEMENT TO THE FBI CHICAGO — The former Speaker of the … Continue reading

Framing the Lantz Trial

As anyone who watched the press coverage of the Blagojevich trials observed, attorneys for the defendants tried their best to talk directly to potential jurors through the media. While McHenry County doesn’t have television for that task, defense attorney Mark … Continue reading

Mike McCleary Criminal Charges Dismissed

Charges against the second McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Investigator have been dismissed by Rockford Judge Joseph McGraw. His name is Mike McCleary. Arguments were made for dismissal by his Rockford attorney Christopher DeRango. You can read the judge’s questions on … Continue reading

Judge Joseph McGraw’s Oral Ruling on Lou Bianchi & Joyce Synek Case

Below is what Judge Joseph McGraw ruled in the criminal trial of McHenry County State’s Attorney and his assistant Joyce Synek: STATE OF ILLINOIS) ) SS: COUNTY OF McHENRY) IN THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT McHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS THE PEOPLE OF … Continue reading

What Led to the Directed Verdicts of Acquittal in Lou Bianchi’s and Joyce Synek’s Criminal Cases

A U.S. Marshal told me he had spent three years sitting in courtrooms and never seen a directed verdict. I’ve seen one. It was when my 1982 Skinner for Congress campaign manager sued because I didn’t pay what he thought … Continue reading

“No nephew in trouble. Never met this young man,” Bianchi Says of Indictment Count Charging Familial Favoritism

In McHenry County Blog’s main story on Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s second indictment of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, the last count accuses Bianchi of doing a favor for his “nephew.” That’s right, the word is in quotes. That’s … Continue reading

The February Indictments of Lou Bianchi and His Investigators Ron Salgado & Michael McCreary

Last Thursday Special State’s Attorney Henry Tonigan filed a second indictment against McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. Tonigan held a press conference about his grand jury’s four-day ago indictments today, but didn’t let me know it was to be … Continue reading