Bianchi lawyer rips possible grand jury expansion

A published report suggested that a grand jury investigating McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi was looking into allegations he improperly influenced the dismissal of disorderly conduct charges this summer against a prominent doctor and one-time candidate for a state House seat.

But Bianchi's attorney, Terry Ekl, said no evidence exists that Bianchi used his authority to influence the Crystal Lake case, in which charges were eventually dropped, because the alleged victim didn't want to testify.

“This leaked story is nothing more or less than an attempt to dirty Lou up in the media prior to his trial,” Ekl said Thursday. “It's unethical, improper and probably illegal, too.”

Bianchi was indicted in September on conspiracy and misconduct charges that he tried to cover up evidence that he used county resources and personnel to further his political career. He, along with his secretary, Joyce Synek, have pleaded not guilty and are free on bond.

A newspaper published a story this week, citing “sources said” that a grand jury and special prosecutors were possibly investigating Bianchi's role in dismissing charges against Thomas G. Salvi, 46, of the 3500 block of Deepwood Drive, Crystal Lake. Grand juries meet in secret before issuing indictments.

Salvi was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after a 27-year-old woman told police he made sexually suggestive remarks to her outside a Crystal Lake apartment building on June 25.

The woman, who was 27 at the time, ignored it and drove away but called police with a description and a license plate number after the man continued to follow her.

“Nothing wrong was done, and certainly nothing was done remotely arising to the level of any sort of criminal behavior,” Patrick Salvi, the attorney for Thomas Salvi, told the Daily Herald in August.

The Daily Herald has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with Crystal Lake for the full police report and related documents.

Both Thomas and Patrick Salvi could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Prosecutors dropped the charges on Aug. 17.

“The victim asked us not to go ahead with the case,” Bianchi said in mid-August when the charges were dropped. “The crux of our case was that we needed someone to come in and testify, and she didn't want to do it.”

Ekl has argued that any investigation by two special state's attorneys into any allegations other than those from Bianchi's former secretary, Amy Dalby, is illegal and he has filed a motion to have the charges against Bianchi dismissed.

A judge will hear those on Jan. 7 in Woodstock.

“There' no evidence he did anything wrong (with the Salvi case). It's just innuendo,” Ekl said. “We just want to have a fair trial.”