Long article about nothing

Today the Northwest Herald gave 16 column-inches of space to absolutely nothing. It must be a slow-news day.

The headline was "Bianchi investigation continues". Special prosecutor Henry Tonigan III, appointed to investigate the office of the McHenry County State's Attorney after Amy Dalby illegally removed documents downloaded onto a flash drive, could just have said, "Hey, I've got $100,000 to spend. Out of my way."

The reporter said, "An investigation ... still is moving forward but without any significant public developments." Oh, really?

The County had already paid Tonigan and Thomas McQueen $34,231.40 through December. (Hello? What about January and February?)

And an "emergency fund"? What "emergency"?

It sounds to me like the Northwest Herald is trying State's Attorney Lou Bianchi in the press.

And where is the investigation about the sheriff's department employee to whom Dalby gave the flash drive for use by Bianchi's rival in the 2008 election? The Illinois State Police believed it to be in his safe deposit box. He was supposed to retrieve it from his box at the bank, but then it conveniently "disappeared". Who fell for that one?

Has anyone filed a FOIA request with the County for Tonigan's January and February billings? Is any of the $65,768.60 left? Any bets on whether he'll be back to ask Judge Graham or the County Board for more? The next court date is June 10. I predict the 65Gs will be gone by then. Hopefully, Judge Graham will demand concrete information about progress (or lack thereof).

My head is still spinning over a bunch of felony charges against Dalby getting knocked down to a misdemeanor. That's one lucky young woman!