Attorney General: No criminal investigation into Bianchi spending

The Illinois attorney general's office will not pursue allegations that McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi committed criminal misconduct by charging thousands of dollars in meals, snacks and parade candy to the county, an agency official said Friday.

The announcement, hailed as vindication by Bianchi, comes about three months after the attorney general's office confirmed it was looking into claims the state's attorney used taxpayer money for political and personal expenses.

But after examining records and speaking with the person who filed the complaint, the agency decided not to pursue the matter any further, attorney general spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said Friday.

"We have determined there is no basis for opening a criminal investigation," she said.

Bianchi, who steadfastly maintained that the costs were legitimate business expenses, blamed the allegations on the political backers of Dan Regna, his opponent in next month's Republican primary.

"Since he announced his candidacy his supporters have done nothing but perpetuate a smear campaign against me and my office," Bianchi said. "I'm disappointed by their tactics. Their divisive conduct continues to cause damage to the Republican party."

With the inquiry over, the attorney general also ended months of speculation Friday over the person behind the complaint. As it turns out, the complaint was the work of Kristen Foley, a former assistant state's attorney who now works in the city of Naperville's legal department.

Foley's complaint, released by the attorney general Friday, largely mirrors the results of a Daily Herald investigation that found Bianchi's office had spent about $17,000 on candy, snacks and meals since he took office in December 2004.

She also says Bianchi used taxpayer money to buy flowers, tip a bellhop for retrieving his cell phone from a hotel parking lot, and take a cab to Holy Name Cathedral while attending a state's attorney conference in Chicago.

Foley did not return a call for comment Friday.

Regna described Foley as "one of thousands of supporters" but said she is not an official member of his campaign. He had no part in her complaint and was unaware she had sent it, Regna said.

He also questioned whether the attorney general decision vindicates Bianchi's spending decisions.

"It may not have been criminal, but Mr. Bianchi's frivolous spending of taxpayer money was wrong," he said.

The complaint also was the reason McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Bill LeFew gave in October for his decision to resign from the post. LeFew, who also serves as the county treasurer, said he believed it would be a conflict of interest for him to support Bianchi as a GOP state's attorney while the possibility of a criminal investigation into his finances loomed.

LeFew did not return a call for comment Friday.

In a meeting this week with the Daily Herald editorial board, county Auditor Pam Palmer noted that since Bianchi's spending practices came to light, he has not submitted for reimbursement similar bills for snacks and meals.

And Bianchi, during his meeting with the editorial board two days later, indicated that any such treats for his staff are now paid for with his own money.