WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board is weighing a deal presented by State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's counsel to pay for his successful legal defense against corruption charges.

Under the proposal outlined by Bianchi attorney Terry Ekl, the county would pay $268,420 of Bianchi's legal fees and expenses, less than half of the cost of defending him in court. In exchange, Ekl offered the county an opportunity to recoup its expenses through a potential federal civil rights lawsuit against special prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen, according to sources close to the matter.

The County Board Finance and Audit and Law and Justice committees met in closed session Tuesday evening with Ekl to discuss the proposal, an hour prior to the regular County Board meeting. Bianchi racked up $492,187 in legal fees alone, according to sources.