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

Emails Belie Andy Zinke’s Claim to No Role in Prosecution of State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi

Is there a new and reformed Andy Zinke? The Northwest Herald does the public service of asking candidates for major office to reply to questionnaires. This question was interesting: “The sheriff’s office in recent years has been beset by acrimony … Continue reading

Terry Ekl Continues His Questioning of Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen

Cross examination of McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen started after a lunch break on December 20, 2013, at his trial for indirect contempt of court.  (Sorry for the long delay in getting this written and up.  Find Part 1 … Continue reading

Terry Ekl Attacks Tom McQueen’s Testimony about Withholding Evidence in Bianchi Trials

The afternoon of the second day of the indirect contempt of court trial of McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas “Tom” McQueen consisted mainly of Lou Bianchi defense attorney and prosecutor of the McQueen case Terry Ekl’s questioning McQueen about his … Continue reading

Special Prosecutor Tom McQueen – Honest Mistakes or Willfull Withholding of Evidence?

The two-day trial of McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen wrapped up yesterday. Wednesday was dedicated to the presentation of evidence by volunteer prosecuting attorney Terry Ekl that McQueen had deliberately withheld exculpatory evidence in the criminal trials of McHenry … Continue reading

Prosecution of Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen Withstands Directed Verdict Motion for Dismissal

Arising out of the two criminal prosecutions of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi for official misconduct, among other charges, was a motion by Bianchi to hold Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen in indirect criminal contempt of court. Prosecuted by Bianchi … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen’s Trial for Indirect Contempt of Court Wednesday

It’s been a long time coming, but McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen goes to trial before Winnebago Chief Judge Joseph McGraw in his Winnebago County Courthouse Courtroom Wednesday at 9 AM. The saga began, some believe, when Dan Regna … Continue reading

Tribune Covers State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Effort to Have Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen Held in Contempt of Court

Don’t know how I missed it, but I did. Yesterday, the Chicago Tribune had an article about McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s efforts to have Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen held in contempt of court. Tribune reporter Bob McCoppin points … Continue reading

Indirect Criminal Contempt Proceedings Against State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen & Quest Investigators Close to Trial

Winnebago County Chief Judge Joseph McGraw ruled against McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen in his and Quest International’s requests to stop the criminal contempt proceedings brought as a result of McQueen’s and Henry Tonigan’s criminal prosecution of McHenry County … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Attorney Replies to Request that Contempt of Court Judge Recuse Himself

Terry Ekl, the attorney for McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, has filed the following in reply to a motion by Robert Scigalski and Patrick Hannretty Quest Consultants International for Judge Joseph McGraw. … Continue reading

Quest Asks Judge Joseph McGraw to Recuse Himself from Lou Bianchi Contempt Effort

The following is the court filing by Robert Scigalski and Patrick Hanretty of Quest Consultants International asking that Judge Joseph McGraw recuse himself in McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s attempt to have the two and Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen … Continue reading

Bianchi’s Amended Chicago Federal Court Filing

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, EASTERN DIVISION LOUIS A. BIANCHI, JOYCE A. SYNEK, RONALD J. SALGADO, and MICHAEL J. McCLEARY Plaintiffs, v. No.: 12-cv-00364 THOMAS K. MCQUEEN, DANIEL JERGER, ROBERT SCIGALSKI, JAMES REILLY, … Continue reading

Bianchi on the Attack in Chicago – Part 1

Not only was McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s legal team on the attack in Rockford, but papers were filed in Chicago in his Federal suit now against Thomas K. McQueen Daniel Jerger Robert Scigalski James Reilly Patrick Hanretty Richard … Continue reading

Bianchi on the Attack in Rockford

This morning in Rockford’s Winnebago County Courthouse, lawyers showed up for both Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen and the Quest investigators. They were there to fend off contempt of court charges bought by McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. Judge Joseph … Continue reading

Bianchi’s Federal Suit against Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen, Quest Dismissed

It didn’t make the print edition of the Chicago Tribune today, but the internet edition yesterday carried a story by Robert McCoppin telling of Federal Judge Robert Dow, Jr.’s dismissal of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s suit against Henry … Continue reading

Focusing on Lou Bianchi’s Motion to Hold Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen, et al, in Contempt of Court – Part 1

Monday was the first hearing on McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s motion to hold Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen and two of his investigators in contempt of court. I asked Bianchi attorney Terry Ekl what happened. “Basically, nothing,” he replied. … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 4

We are moving on to Part 4–roughly pages 30-40–of Lou Bianchi attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen, their investigative firm Quest Consultants International and others. From the title above paragraph 124, one … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 3

Here is the third installment of the posting of attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan, his assistant Thomas McQueen, Quest Consultants International, et al.  Here are Part 1 and Part 2. Tonigan settled with Bianchi, … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 1

Yes, I used the word “persecuted” in the headline, rather than “prosecuted.” This case charges, accurately, I believe, that Bianchi and his staff members who were criminally charged were “victims of politically and financially motivated criminal investigations and prosecutions,” as … Continue reading