February 9, 2016
By Jonathan Oosting
Lansing — Todd Flood, (click here) special counsel for the state attorney general’s office investigation into the Flint water crisis, said Tuesday the probe could lead to a variety of criminal charges or civil actions.
Lansing — Todd Flood, (click here) special counsel for the state attorney general’s office investigation into the Flint water crisis, said Tuesday the probe could lead to a variety of criminal charges or civil actions.
“We’re here to investigate what possible crimes there are, anything to the involuntary manslaughter or death that may have happened to some young person or old person because of this poisoning, to misconduct in office,” he said. “We take this very seriously.”
Flood joined Attorney General Bill Schuette, chief investigator Andrew Arena and deputy chief investigator Ellis Stafford for a media round table Tuesday in Lansing, where they provided an update on the investigation launched last month.
The probe will look at state and local government officials to determine whether any state laws were violated. There is no clear timeline for how long the investigation will take....
...Critics continue to question the objectivity of the investigation, noting that Flood has made political contributions to both Schuette and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, a fact he has said will not affect his judgment in the case. Flood also donated to former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm....
...Schuette announced the investigation last month and detailed steps to create a “firewall” within his office, which is also defending Snyder and state departments in a series of lawsuits brought by Flint residents exposed to contaminated drinking water....
I think it is rather obvious who is going to be scapegoated regarding Flint. Seven employees of the Michigan DEQ,
...Because he is involved in the investigation, Schuette is not part of the team defending Snyder in a federal class-action lawsuit. But his office, citing a “potential conflict of interest” between the administration and other defendants, has asked to withdraw as legal counsel for seven Department of Environmental Quality employees, including one recently fired by the state over the Flint water crisis. Those individuals would have the opportunity to obtain new attorneys paid for by the state....
The Michigan DEQ didn't close down the pipeline between Flint and Detroit and they sure didn't sell the pipeline to a private concern so Flint could not go back to using Detroit water.
The probe will look at state and local government officials to determine whether any state laws were violated. There is no clear timeline for how long the investigation will take....
...Critics continue to question the objectivity of the investigation, noting that Flood has made political contributions to both Schuette and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, a fact he has said will not affect his judgment in the case. Flood also donated to former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm....
...Schuette announced the investigation last month and detailed steps to create a “firewall” within his office, which is also defending Snyder and state departments in a series of lawsuits brought by Flint residents exposed to contaminated drinking water....
I think it is rather obvious who is going to be scapegoated regarding Flint. Seven employees of the Michigan DEQ,
...Because he is involved in the investigation, Schuette is not part of the team defending Snyder in a federal class-action lawsuit. But his office, citing a “potential conflict of interest” between the administration and other defendants, has asked to withdraw as legal counsel for seven Department of Environmental Quality employees, including one recently fired by the state over the Flint water crisis. Those individuals would have the opportunity to obtain new attorneys paid for by the state....
The Michigan DEQ didn't close down the pipeline between Flint and Detroit and they sure didn't sell the pipeline to a private concern so Flint could not go back to using Detroit water.
