Bianchi office manager subpoenaed over former secretary's claims

The longtime office manager for McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi has been subpoenaed to testify about claims she knew a secretary was doing political work on county time.

Karen Rhodes, along with Bianchi, received a subpoena Wednesday issued by the attorney for Amy Dalby, a former state's attorney secretary who says she was required by Bianchi to perform campaign-related duties while on the clock.

The subpoenas demand their appearance at a court hearing Friday on Dalby's petition for a special prosecutor to investigate the accusations.

"I think (Rhodes) has information relevant to these allegations," Dalby attorney Wesley Pribla said Thursday. "Miss Rhodes advised Mr. Bianchi that what he was doing was basically illegal."

Rhodes, however, was excused from Friday's hearing by Judge Gordon Graham because she has plans to be out of town.

Her attorney, William Caldwell, declined to discuss Rhodes' possible testimony or Dalby's claims, but said his client would testify at a later date if required by a judge.

"She's not willing, but she's subpoenaed and will comply with the law," Caldwell said.

Bianchi repeatedly has denied claims he had Dalby perform several campaign-related duties - such as typing letters to supporters, setting up tables for a fundraiser and creating donor lists - while on county time.

Last week he said he would be willing to testify about the allegations.

Dalby went public with the accusations after she was charged earlier this year with unlawfully removing thousands of copies of computer files from the office. The 24-year-old college student later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor computer tampering charge and was sentenced to court supervision.

Dalby claims she made copies of the files in order to protect herself from accusations she willingly broke the law while working for Bianchi, though a special prosecutor said she turned them over to Bianchi's 2008 election opponent.