In an effort to get County Attorney Tim Scannell to resign from his position because of his involvement with a teenaged girl, Gary Nesgoda of Grand Marais stood on the street in front of the courthouse on Friday, December 14 with a hand-lettered sign (attached to a snow shovel handle) stating, “STEP DOWN TIM.”
Although Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell maintains that the circumstances that led to the filing of a harassment restraining order against him on December 4, 2012 in no way affect his job as the county’s lead prosecuting attorney and legal advisor to the Cook County commissioners, there are a number of citizens who disagree. People unhappy with 47-year-old Scannell’s admitted relationship with a 17-year-old girl want him to step down from office and they are using a variety of methods toward that end—high tech and low.
Since the restraining order became public, two facebook pages calling for Scannell’s resignation were launched and each obtained over 150 supporters. Both pages were removed presumably because some virulent comments violated the statement of rights and responsibilities that all facebook users accept when they open a facebook account.
The Cook County News- Herald caught up with Scannell by phone at his office on Thursday, December 20 and asked him if he was aware of the facebook page—and had he played a part in having it taken down? Scannell said no, but added that friends had filed complaints. “They can’t believe how cruel some of the comments are. The personal stuff is just wrong,” he said.
After those facebook pages were removed, a new page titled “Cook County for a new County Attorney” was created. At press time that page had 67 supporters.
Another grassroots effort to get Scannell to resign from his position was launched on December 14. Gary Nesgoda, of Grand Marais, stood on the street in front of the courthouse with a hand-lettered sign stating, “STEP DOWN TIM.”
The Cook County News-Herald talked to Nesgoda, who said that he believed he was receiving a “97 percent approval rating” from the vehicles passing by on 5th Street. He said most motorists honked their horn and gave him a thumbs up sign as they passed by.
Asked why he felt strongly enough to picket the courthouse, Nesgoda said he believed it was in the best interest of the county for the attorney to resign. “He is our moral compass. I just don’t think he can do his job,” said Nesgoda, who said he would return to picket the courthouse every Friday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. until the county attorney resigns.
Noting that there was a Sheriff ’s Department car in the courthouse parking lot, Nesgoda was asked if the police had been called because he was picketing. Nesgoda said no. “They are not going to run me off. I did my homework and I can be here,” said Nesgoda, waving to a passing motorist who honked and shouted out the window, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Scannell said he was at the courthouse that day, but didn’t go outside to talk to Nesgoda, because he was feeling “jumpy” that day. “I’m doing better today,” said Scannell.
As his family noted in a message last week, Scannell is still dealing with the emotional and physical trauma of being shot at the courthouse last December after he had successfully convicted Daniel Schlienz of Grand Marais of criminal sexual conduct with a teenaged girl. Scannell was shot three times—in the chest, pelvis and leg.
“I’m still in therapy,” Scannell explained. “I spent five weeks in inpatient treatment and I’ve learned a lot about post-traumatic stress disorder. It is something you can heal from, it just takes time. It’s hard just to walk into this building. Not every day, but some days it is really hard.”
He noted that the stress of the current situation is difficult, quickly adding, “I made a mistake and I want to take responsibility.”
The News-Herald asked Scannell why he does not step down—if not to reduce the conflict in the community, for his own mental health. Scannell replied, “It’s a complicated job, it’s not something that someone can just step into. We have really good people here and I can stay on top of things. I’m trying to follow the advice of my PTSD counselors as close as I can. When I’m ‘good,’ I’m here doing my job. Hopefully I can figure out how to deal with all of this.
“I love this community and I love this job. If anything, all of this has made me more empathetic,” said Scannell.
“I’ve apologized for causing the community all of this pain again. I’ve apologized to my family; to the affected family; to the Schlienz family. I made a mistake. I would retract it if I could,” said Scannell.
Of the protestor, Scannell said, “It’s a free country. He can do what he wants.”
The News-Herald asked Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk if that was correct and Falk said yes, Nesgoda was exercising his right to peaceably assemble. As long as he did not disrupt county business, he had the right to be there with a protest sign.
Sheriff Falk said there was no news yet on the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) investigation into the county attorney’s relationship with a teenaged girl.
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