“We believe there is no evidence to support any criminal charges against Government Snyder,” defense attorney Brian Lennon said Wednesday night, adding that state prosecutors have still not provided him with details.
Lennon said Tuesday a criminal case would be “outrageous.” Snyder and others were due to appear in court on Thursday, followed by a news conference by Dana Nessel, attorney general, and prosecutors.
In addition to Snyder, a Republican who was governor from 2011 to 2018, complaints are expected against other people, including former officials who served as his state health director and as a senior adviser.
The alleged violation date is April 25, 2014, when an emergency manager hired by Snyder, who ran the struggling black city, made a money-saving decision to use the Flint River for water while a local pipeline from Lake Huron was under construction. wash. .
However, the corrosive water was not treated properly and released lead from old plumbing in homes in one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in American history.
Despite desperate pleas from residents holding jug of discolored, skunk water, Snyder’s government took no significant action until a doctor reported an increased lead levels in children about 18 months later.
“I’m sorry and I’ll fix it,” Snyder promised during his 2016 state of the nation address.
Authorities have counted at least 90 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Genesee County, including 12 deaths. Some experts have found that there is not enough chlorine in the water treatment system to control legionella bacteria, which can cause a serious form of pneumonia when spread through fog and cooling systems.
The disaster made Flint a national symbol of government failure, and residents were forced to be bottled for water and parents feared their children would suffer permanent damage. Lead can damage the brain and nervous system and cause learning and behavioral problems. The crisis was highlighted as an example of environmental injustice and racism.
More than 9,700 home service lines have been replaced. Flint’s water, which now comes from a local agency in Detroit, scores well, although many distrustful residents still use filters.
The criminal investigation lasted five years under two prosecuting teams. Todd Flood, who convicted seven people of the offense, was expelled in 2019 after the election of Nessel, a Democrat. Fadwa Hammoud has dismissed the charges in eight pending cases, saying the investigation will start all over again. She said the first team did not gather all available evidence.
Separately, the state, Flint, a hospital and an engineering firm agreed on a $ 641 million settlement with residents over the water crisis, with $ 600 million from Michigan. A judge said she hopes to decide by January 21 whether to grant her preliminary approval. Other lawsuits, including one against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are pending.