Special prosecutor to appear here Thursday

Special Cook County Prosecutor Thomas B. Heffelfinger will be in Grand Marais tomorrow, Oct. 31, to conduct a press conference in connection with a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) investigation.

A BCA representative will also be in attendance at the 10 a.m. conference to be held on the front steps of the Cook County Courthouse.
Heffelfinger, who twice led the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, was appointed as special prosecutor to determine whether criminal charges are warranted against Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell for his relationship with a minor girl. His responsibility was to review the BCA’s investigation.

Scannell was ordered by the court last December to stay away from the minor girl.

Subsequently, the BCA conducted an investigation of Scannell’s relationship with the girl and was ready to submit the case to a prosecuting attorney to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.

Six Minnesota county attorneys were contacted to review the investigation and all declined. Hence, Heffelfinger was appointed to act as special prosecutor and perform all duties of the county attorney in relation to the Scannell case.