The utter failure of Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen to put on a criminal case against McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi seems to have emboldened the McHenry County Board.

After the acquittal on all counts rendered by Rockford Judge Joseph McGraw delivered before Defense Attorney Terry Ekl put on any evidence, the County Board through the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office is asking that Judge Gordon Graham stay his order for payment of Tonigan’s latest bill

That’s what Law and Justice Committee Chairman Nick Provenzano explained before the Patriots United Pro-Life Breakfast Saturday morning at D’Andrea’s in Crystal Lake.

McHenry County Board member Nick Provenzano (center) talks to Joyce Story as his son Ryan ((left) and speaker Rev. Bob VandenBosch listen.

“We asked the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office to file a motion on our behalf for a stay of the court order issued by Judge Graham to pay the Special Prosecutor his latest bill,” Provenzano said.

“Having these charges dropped so quickly and so completely showed me that this was nothing but a witch hunt and we just flushed $500,000 of the taxpayers’ money down the drain.

“And that doesn’t count State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s legal bills which will no doubt be presented. He’s an employee of the county was found not guilty.”

Provenzano said county officials were also interested in looking at bills that have already been paid.