McQueen wants out; Tonigan wants out. Who's left?

On April 26th Attorney Henry "Skip" Tonigan filed a motion to withdraw as Special Prosecutor in the case against sitting McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi. At that time, just two months ago, Tonigan claimed that his duties in caring for his 86-year-old father had "dramatically increased", as the Northwest Herald published.

He said that he wanted Attorney Thomas McQueen to replace him as Special Prosecutor and referred to McQueen as an investigator who had been appointed to assist him. Has a judge ever ruled on that motion? Has McQueen's role ever been elevated to that of Special Prosecutor?

Isn't Tonigan still "the" Special Prosecutor in the Bianchi case?

Yesterday McQueen filed a motion to withdraw, feeling threatened by Bianchi's attorney, Terry Ekl, who may be planning a lawsuit against McQueen for alleged misconduct in the Bianchi case.

How will the judge in the Bianchi case react when he reads yesterday's Daily Herald article that "Retired Lake County Circuit Judge Henry Tonigan III has been selected to lead an internal investigation about ethics complaints filed against officials at Grayslake Elementary District 46." (Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110628/news/706289929/#ixzz1QfIGSuTA)

How is the senior Mr. Tonigan's health and need for increased care now?

Making matters worse is the pile of bills from the Special Prosecutor that still have not been paid. Did Tonigan have to pay Quest Consultants, Ltd., the investigations firm of ex-FBI agents that he hired, out of his own pocket, or is Quest willing to wait for Tonigan to get paid?

Tonigan should get paid for the work he has done and for that work which he contracted.. I seriously doubt that Tonigan is billing for any work that he did not do. If Judge Graham gave him, in effect, a blank check when he put him to work, then he should fill in the numbers now and order payment. Even if the County Board doesn't like it. Even if the taxpayers don't like it.

Maybe next time the County Board and the judge will figure out how not to issue blank checks.

Nobody else works for free in McHenry County. If you are going to order work and you don't intend to pay for it, then you need to say so, right up front!