In those first investigaitons the findings ended with the emergency managers as the problem in the Flint Water Crisis. We know for a fact the former Governor Snyder was involved in all those decisions regarding many Michigan communities that fell under the Emergency Manager Law even after a referendum ended the law.
The picture below is of Mr. Earley at the US House hearings about the Flint Water Crisis. (click here)
17 January 2022
The change in direction of the Attorney General of Michigan is worrisome to people. It would be best if AG Nessel were more forthcoming about what exactly happened with the Flint prosecutions. It may be difficult given the trials are still continuing and some are hopeful they continue until there is still yet more elections, but, the issue is still fresh enough to address it.
By Jordon Chariton and Charlie LeDuff
A team of prosecutors (click here) and investigators leading the investigation into the Flint water crisis from 2016 through 2018 were assembling a racketeering case against the architects of a bond deal that residents and experts say sparked the health disaster, sources familiar with the criminal investigation have told the Guardian.
The case – which would have come under the Rico (racketeer-influenced and corrupt organizations) laws often used to charge organized crime groups – was widespread and set to implicate additional state officials who played a role in the poisoning of Flint, according to these sources.
But when the team was suddenly broken up and the investigation restarted with a new set of investigators, the Rico case never materialized....
Many measures have been in place since the initial poisoning. Those measures included a settlement that is two-thirds of a billion US (click here). The settlement will assist many people who need the relief now and can't wait for other measures. At least that is what is expected to occur.
There has been continuing examination of the water to Flint residents by the US EPA. I am sure the State of Michigan under Governor Whitmer tests it as well, but, this is the City of Flint's webpage regarding water quality (click here).
This is the Earley indictment (click here). One might recognize the charges "Misconduct in Office" which are the same charges Snyder currently faces. In this indictment those charges can recieve upto 5 years and/or $10,000 fine for each charge. Snyder is now facing two.
Bringing those charges against the former governor is more than appropriate, especially considering, the law governing Emergency Managers was changed under Snyder. The law then, when defeated in a referendum by the people of Michigan was reinstated. Both the change in the statute and the reinstatment were signed by the Former Governor Snyder. His name is all over that law and it was that law under his watch that resulted in the poisoning of the people of Flint.
I need to review the Congressional hearing and the focus of previous indictments, but, these questions are still out there and need to be addressed. It would be better if they were addressed by the current AG, but, if that isn't possible for ethical reasons then perhaps the press and laymen interested in justice can conduct their own findings.
There is an element missing in these proceedings and that is the egregious condition of the Flint River water before it was diverted. That river was well known to environmentalists and conservationists. It was a filthy river.
The use of the Flint River was just wrong. There is no way anyone is going to say that river was fit for consumption and yet the river was divereted into the pipes of Flint homes. Considering Snyder was a resident of Michigan and went on to be Governor brings about the level of INTENT he carried out his demands for Emergency Managers to balance the books at any cost. Any Michigander would recoginize the name of the Flint River and be repulsed by the idea of drinking the water. This is not a new condition and was decades old for that river and brings with it the idea that "What the heck is this?"
The last people guilty of any crime are those that worked at the Water Treatment Plant. They were told to conduct the switch and they did what was asked of them by their superiors. You can say what you want, but, facing losing one's job can be a terrifying experience if they are invested in that job. A worker at the plant committed suicide after his indictment. That was just wrong and the Snyder administration was focusing on removing any shadow of the deaths and maiming from responsibility by the Governor.
That suicide should be hung around Snyder's neck along with all the other wrong doing in this profound tragedy of Legionaire's Disease and lead contamination of children and expectant parents.
The indictments in the Flint River tragedy as issued by Nessel's office seems so insufficent considering the POLITICAL PRIORITIES of the then GOP of Michigan. There is something very palpable about the Flint poisoning and yet there is so little palpable about the justice being sought.
It is time for a review. People need justice and the proceedings going forward just doesn't feel right.
