Here are nine officials charged in Flint water crisis
A total of nine people many of whom are connected to the state s 2014-15 response to a Legionnaires disease outbreak were charged Thursday by Attorney General Dana Nessel s office in relation to the Flint water crisis.
For three former state of Michigan officials, the charges are new. For the six others, charges have been resurrected after Nessel s office in 2019 dismissed all pending cases authorized by her predecessor, Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette, and started the investigation anew.
Those charged range from a former two-term governor to a Flint public works director, from emergency managers to top state officials. Even a maternal infant health specialist was arraigned.
At least a dozen people died and more than 80 people fell ill after untreated water from the Flint River caused lead to leach from old pipes, poisoning the water system city residents relied on.
New Charges In Flint Water Crisis, Including Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder
at 5:23 pm NPR
Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was charged Wednesday for his role in the Flint water crisis, an environmental disaster that contaminated the majority Black city s drinking water with lead nearly seven years ago.
The charges were reported by the Associated Press. The wire service says Snyder is facing two counts of willful neglect of duty and if convicted he could face a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Other former members of his administration are expected to face charges as well, AP reports.
Earlier this week, as reports began to surface that charges were looming, an attorney for Snyder referred to them as a politically motivated smear campaign, according to the Detroit Free Press.