“It has to do with human decency, resurrecting the complete abandonment of the people of Flint and finally, finally, holding people accountable for the unspeakable alleged atrocities that harmed this city for years.” “This case has nothing to do with partisanship,” Worthy said in a statement. Worthy called it “one of the largest criminal investigations currently underway in the world” on Thursday. Hammoud and Worthy then began a widespread investigation, combing through millions of documents and several hundred electronic devices, and executed dozens of search warrants to bring fresh charges regarding the case.
Upon taking office in 2019, Nessel made the decision to put a conflict wall in place to ensure the criminal investigation and civil litigation following the Flint Water Crisis were conducted by separate teams. Nessel thus led the civil litigation team, while Hammoud and Worthy were tapped to conduct the criminal investigation, replacing the OSC completely.Ĭiting grave concerns about the investigative approach and legal theories embraced by the former OSC, particularly regarding the pursuit of evidence, Hammoud and Worthy announced in June 2019 the dismissal without prejudice (meaning they could be filed later) of all pending criminal charges previously brought by the OSC. Fresh investigationīy early 2016, Snyder declared a state of emergency in Genesee County and an investigation was launched by a private law firm, appointed by then-Attorney General Bill Schuette, that was then designated as the former Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Those two emergency mangers, Ambrose and Earley, are now facing multiple five-year felonies.
Eden Wells – former chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.Two counts of willful neglect of duty – each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine.Richard Snyder – former governor of Michigan.Two counts of misconduct in office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.Nancy Peeler – early childhood health section manager at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.One count of willful neglect of duty – a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine.Nine counts of involuntary manslaughter – each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine.Nicolas Lyon – former director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.Three counts of misconduct in office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.Darnell Earley – Former Flint emergency manager.Two counts of willful neglect of duty – each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine.Howard Croft – former director of the Flint Department of Public Works.One count of extortion – a 20-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.One count of obstruction of justice – a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.One count of official misconduct in office – a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.Richard Baird – former transformation manager and senior adviser, Executive Office of Gov. Snyder.Four counts of misconduct in office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.Gerald Ambrose – former Flint emergency manager.One count of perjury – a 15-year felony.Jarrod Agen – former director of communications and former chief of staff, Executive Office of Gov. Snyder.
Nine officials, including Snyder, have been indicted on a total of 42 counts related to a series of alleged actions and inactions related to the Flint water crisis.
The charges are part of several indictments announced by Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Thursday, including manslaughter charges for two officials. When the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality failed to treat corrosive water from the new supply, it ate into the city’s aging iron and lead water pipes and leached those elements into the drinking water. Switching of Flint’s water supply was supposed to be temporary while a new supply line to Lake Huron was completed. Snyder failed to order a change in the city’s water source for 17 months, even as residents protested and demanded action. In 2014, the switching of Flint’s water source without treatment led to dangerous contamination of its water supply, causing 12 deaths, long term health effects for Flint’s residents and two outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. FLINT - On Thursday, former Governor Rick Snyder pled “not guilty” to two misdemeanor charges that carry up to a $1,000 fine each or up to one year in prison for each, for his role in the Flint water crisis.