The charges generally reflect the findings of the independent Flint Water Advisory Task Force investigation, which was released last month and found the DEQ “failed in its fundamental responsibility to effectively enforce drinking water regulations”. And just this week, he dramatized the fact that the water quality has improved by announcing that he would be drinking filtered Flint tap water at his home and office for the next month.
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Flint’s water now has phosphates added to it to coat the water pipes and help keep lead from leaching out and getting into drinking water. “I’m also concerned about this-what if someone wants to sue and the State of MI says that person no longer works for us?”
According to the findings, on July 27, a meeting was held between DEQ and Flint, where it was decided that the original lead report was “scrubbed” eliminating two of the highest lead results, which lowered the city’s overall lead levels, putting the city below the action level for lead.
An email sent April 17, 2014 – eight days before Flint switched its water source – seems to indicate that Glasgow had problems with the monitoring schedule and his staffing ahead of the switch.
Lead leached from pipes into schools, homes and businesses in flint.
Schuette began an investigation into the crisis in January.
The press conference was held after the prosecutor of the Genesee County, Michigan, David Leyton, had announced the charges for the three officials.
Schuette’s appointed special counsel for the investigation, Todd Flood, said earlier this year that manslaughter charges were within the realm of possibility.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said Wednesday more charges are likely to be filed and the three men were cooperating with investigators.
The doctor who is credited with bringing the Flint water crisis to the public’s attention is receiving a prestigious recognition as one the world’s most influential people.
While he has rejected repeated calls for his resignation, Snyder, a once promising Republican chief executive, has launched a flurry of legislative and funding initiatives to finance a complete overhaul of Flint’s aging water system.
Flint utilities administrator Michael Glasgow is also charged and has been placed on leave. According to NBC News, the indictments are a mix of felonies and misdemeanors that carry up to five years behind bars.
It is alleged that defendant did knowingly and intentionally remove, alter, conceal, destroy, or otherwise tamper with evidence to be offered in an official proceeding, to wit: the report entitled “Lead and Copper Report and Consumer Notice of Lead Result” dated February 27, 2015 and/or July 28, 2015 and/or August 20, 2015; contrary to MCL 750.483a(6)(a). What’s happening now? The first charges have finally been filed.
Mayor Karen Weaver sat in the front row to hear the news.
“I’m working under the assumption Director Creagh would be revisiting the appropriateness of continuing to pay”, Snyder said.
The governor told reporters Wednesday that he’s looking not for vindication, but for the truth. “I hope I gave them some”. “They failed”, said Schuette.
“No, there is not going to be anything equally distributed here”, she said.
“No one is off limits”, he said. “I believe there is probable cause to believe that, in each instance to each defendant and to each count that probable cause exists to believe that the list of crimes were committed and committed by the charged individuals”. “The system of justice applies to everybody”.
As for the people of Flint, they know the investigation must continue. Dunigan says he’s not impressed.
Be proactive – Use the “Flag as Inappropriate” link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts. We need to move forward with the pipes but this gets us started.
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“So many things went so terribly wrong in Flint”. The investigators did not say when, or if, the governor will be part of their inquiry. “The result is what you see today”.
