Michigan Plans to Charge Ex-Gov Snyder in Flint Water Crisis

Jan. 13, 2021

Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other ex-officials are being charged in the Flint water crisis.

Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, his health director and ex-officials have been told they are being charged after a new investigation of the Flint water crisis, reported AP News. 

The Flint water crisis contaminated water with lead and that devastated the city, according to the city’s website.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed two charges of willful neglect of duty against former Gov. Rick Snyder, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Genesee County District Court records show the charges stem from an alleged offense on Apr. 25, 2014, which is the day Flint began using the Flint River as its new water source. Nessel spokeswoman Kelly Rossman-McKinney said she could not confirm or deny the charges, reported the Detroit Free Press. 

The attorney general’s office has informed defense lawyers about indictments in Flint and told them to expect initial court appearances soon, reported two anonymous sources to the AP. 

The nature of the charges against Snyder could not be determined, according to the AP.

The charges are also against former health department director Nick Lyon, former top Snyder aide Richard Baird, former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft, and more, according to Lennon, reported the Detroit Free Press.

Ven Johnson, a metro Detroit attorney, told the Detroit Free Press that convicting Snyder will be an uphill battle and that the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt will be a high bar for prosecutors under state Attorney General Dana Nessel. 

Snyder was governor when state-appointed managers in Flint switched the city’s water to the Flint River in 2014. Since the water was not treated to reduce corrosion, lead leached from old pipes and spoiled the distribution system used by nearly 100,000 residents.

According to Snyder’s attorney, Brian Lennon in a statement released, a criminal prosecution would be “outrageous” and that state prosecutors have refused to “share information about these charges with us,” reported the AP.

Bacteria in the water was blamed for an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the time as well. The outbreak was officially announced by Snyder and Lyon in January 2016, but Lyon conceded that he knew that cases were being reported many months earlier, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Read related content about the Flint water crisis: 

About the Author

Cristina Tuser

Sponsored Recommendations

Blower Package Integration

March 20, 2024
See how an integrated blower package can save you time, money, and energy, in a wastewater treatment system. With package integration, you have a completely integrated blower ...

Strut Comparison Chart

March 12, 2024
Conduit support systems are an integral part of construction infrastructure. Compare steel, aluminum and fiberglass strut support systems.

Energy Efficient System Design for WWTPs

Feb. 7, 2024
System splitting with adaptive control reduces electrical, maintenance, and initial investment costs.

Blower Isentropic Efficiency Explained

Feb. 7, 2024
Learn more about isentropic efficiency and specific performance as they relate to blowers.