Peeler, Miller and Scott were charged with misconduct in office, conspiracy to commit misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty. Miller, the state’s head epidemiologist, allegedly ordered a department employee to ignore the findings of high lead levels and take no action. Conspiracy, evidence tampering and neglect charges were also filed. In the case of the latter department, Liane Shekter-Smith, Patrick Cook and Adam Rosenthal. He faces three felony charges: misconduct in office, conspiracy to tamper with evidence and or engage in misconduct, tampering with evidence, and one misdemeanor charge: willful neglect of duty of a public official.
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The state revealed late past year that due to a switch in Flint’s water source meant to save money, which was initiated by Gov.
The presence of E.Coli preceded the crisis, with residents complaining about the odor, taste and color of the tap water. According to an email, Cook, a specialist with the Department of Environmental Quality’s Community Drinking Water Unit, mentioned the possible need for corrosion-control treatments in Flint during a conversation with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official in May 2015.
The scandal highlighted the state of America’s infrastructure crisis and anxious parents across the nation due to the alarming levels of lead tested in children. For decades, the once-thriving industrial city used water piped in from Lake Huron, with anti-corrosion chemicals added along the way by Detroit water officials. An estimated 8,000 children could have been exposed to lead, which can cause severe developmental issues.
Four of those charged Friday have been suspended without pay.
In a statement, Schuette said “The families of Flint will not be forgotten”.
“Scott and Peeler conspired together and with others known and unknown to effectively bury Larder’s report warranting further investigation”, Seipenko said Friday morning in court. The MDEQ employees are charged with hiding evidence that Flint’s water did not meet federal standards.
In April Schuette filed charges against two Michigan Department of Environmental Quality employees, Michael Prysby and Stephen Busch.
– Daniel Jaquier (@Roolbreaker1) July 29, 2016Enough with the distractions, Mr. AG-charge Governor Snyder and let’s get this over with.
“I’m really surprised to see criminal charges”.
“The last time we were in court Ms. Shekter-Smith indicated she was exerting her constitutional right not to incriminate herself”, Morley said, but he had also indicated she was prepared to answer questions under appropriate conditions. “The higher up people are, the less you’ll find their fingerprints on the decisions”, he said. What happens all day?
On Friday, Schuette announced the charges in the poor, primarily black, city of Flint. “There’s one system of justice – it applies to everyone equal, no matter who you are”.
“Some may wish and some may worry that the story of Flint will be slowly absorbed by world events, the 24-hour news cycle and the short attention span of tweets and posts”, he said.
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“Nope, that will not happen, not on our watch. That will not happen”.
