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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJUST IN: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder Hit With Federal RICO Lawsuit For Flint Water Disaster
Now, it will cost Michigan Governor Rick Snyder one massive headache atop the one he has already inflicted on himself and his state. Snyder, it was announced today, is now the subject of a federal racketeering (RICO) lawsuit filed by hundreds of Flint residents.
The lawsuit alleges that the state of Michigan ran Flints day-to-day operations through an emergency manager, who then attempted to partially balance the citys budget through a what he felt was a wise cost-cutting measure: Switching Flints water source from Lake Huron, which had been the source of water in the city for more than 50 years, to a local, heavily polluted river.
The state could have used federal bankruptcy protections for Flint, rather than appoint an emergency manager who was charged with balancing the budget, according to John Clark, an attorney with the law firm Bern Ripka, but state officials decided not to for purely political reasons:
More:
http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/04/06/just-in-michigan-governor-rick-snyder-hit-with-federal-rico-lawsuit-for-flint-water-disaster/
Fucking jackhole Snyder should be behind bars awaiting trial.
malaise
(269,278 posts)Oh Yes!!!
MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)I despise that man with every fiber of my being.
malaise
(269,278 posts)I'm still sure of that
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)These guys have a pretty good track record of refusing to resign even after the trials.
Perry of Texas....Bentley of Ala. ..a few more Repubs I can't recall names right off the bat....
oh, not only our Gov Bentley, but the Speaker of the House and our state chief Justice Roy Moore refusing to resign, despite Federal charges in his case.
But...color me happy at the news of synder...
bjobotts
(9,141 posts)would be affected.. He and his crew deserve jail time.
malaise
(269,278 posts)but I expect to see tham all goon sooner rather than later
scottie55
(1,400 posts)If it was my child that was being poisoned while he was saying the water was safe.................
malaise
(269,278 posts)certainot
(9,090 posts)like all republicans in trouble he's got rw radio defending him and that includes 19 limbaugh stations that will be doing it while wearing the logos and community cred of these michigan unis
Michigan St. 11, Michigan 7, Western Michigan 1
they were probably a major factor getting him elected in the first place, and pushng all their republican alec crap through
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,791 posts)I agree that he should be behind bars awaiting trial........and then staying there.
MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)november3rd
(1,113 posts)I hope this gets plastered all over the front pages for the rest of the year!
MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)mopinko
(70,337 posts)i hope this blows up in his face, big time.
MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)We'll just have to wait and see.
dynamo99
(48 posts)It's a lawsuit (which is permitted by the same law that covers criminal offenses).
I don't think we'll be seeing a criminal indictment. No national politician is going to permit opening that can of worms. Given the activities of the DoJ, NSA, etc., it would put every President at risk.
On the positive side, the burden of proof for a lawsuit is "more likely than not", easier to meet than the "beyond reasonable doubt" that a criminal conviction requires. But you'll still have to deal with jury members who may think the government can do no wrong.
Dustlawyer
(10,499 posts)I also hope that it turns out better than the BP oil spill litigation. A confidentiality Order prevents me from telling what is going down right now, but it is a travesty! The way our system is protecting BP from paying for their harm is, or should be a crime! If we had REAL JOURNALIST AND NEWS OUTLETS and not corporate owned parrots this could not have happened. BP was the biggest advertiser on the Gulf Coast from 2010 to 2013 and one of the biggest national advertisers so as to quash any real attempt at journalism. They would lose ad money if they reported what was going on and the harm caused by the spill and in the aftermath of litigation.
There is no justice if you get harmed by a huge multinational corporation!
silvershadow
(10,336 posts)sheshe2
(84,057 posts)For what he did to the city of Flint.
MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)Response to sheshe2 (Reply #13)
Name removed Message auto-removed
blackspade
(10,056 posts)Waiting.....
Jeffersons Ghost
(15,235 posts)meow2u3
(24,776 posts)Civil RICO charges are more likely to stick. Repunks will find a way to game the jury system to get him off on criminal RICO charges.
Miigwech
(3,741 posts)Maybe now Michigan can kick the bum out of office .... and all the Republicans that have taken over our State!
No Vested Interest
(5,167 posts)Any update or follow-through?
MerryBlooms
(11,776 posts)so I shared.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)baran
(92 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)This is where READING THE ARTICLE is IMPORTANT!
Rex
(65,616 posts)Jeffersons Ghost
(15,235 posts)i wonder if they could charge him with multiple murders
meow2u3
(24,776 posts)I think murder would be too tough to prove, although manslaughter could be a lesser included offense.
scscholar
(2,902 posts)for Hillary. Let's hope the feds don't keep trying to expand it.
safeinOhio
(32,749 posts)For your concern.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Interesting.
AzDar
(14,023 posts)Response to AzDar (Reply #28)
Name removed Message auto-removed
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Hekate
(91,004 posts)Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)But I'm very happy for Flint residents who have endured A LOT!!
Rex
(65,616 posts)benld74
(9,911 posts)hopemountain
(3,919 posts)myrna minx
(22,772 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,379 posts)at taxpayers' expense.
He should just be allowed to finish his term-limited stint as Guv, so Lt Gov Brian Calley doesn't get to run as an incumbent governor. It would be nice to get a Dem into that seat next time.
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/05/25/gov-rick-snyders-legal-tab-6500-per-day/84859358/
usaf-vet
(6,233 posts)IMO.... RICO charges would seem fitting given all of shady dealings with contributors that are starting to see the light of day.
valerief
(53,235 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)libodem
(19,288 posts)About time.
spanone
(135,924 posts)saltpoint
(50,986 posts)the right height and the water pipes flow with toxins.
Didn't like Snyder in the first place. After this Flint thing I liked him even less.
Let the lawyers do their stuff.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)Right now it sounds like he's just being sued in a civil action. I think he and his city manager need to be charged criminally. Is it even possible?
CrispyQ
(36,557 posts)Ditto this.
procon
(15,805 posts)The suit is going far beyond just a one time payoff to those affected, they want big bucks for damages for future medical costs, legal fees, and damages for property damages, loss of business, and financial loss.
Scientific
(314 posts)Republicans are all about "dodging responsibility" - it's one of their freaking degenerate "Republican Values." They are always weasling out. They must be held accountable for the harm they do.
Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)Until then it's just half measures.
WhiteTara
(29,732 posts)looks like he made a big mistake.
OwlinAZ
(410 posts)Privatizing water goes along with the Republican plan to reduce America to a third world country.
scottie55
(1,400 posts)Make an example of him.
Life in prison is too god for all the Snyder's of this world.
rladdi
(581 posts)Republicans indicted. We look at Senator M. McConnell, he is about following the Constitution. We look at many Republicans states and politicians and they all believe no law covers them. Gov. Snyder has thumbed his nose at the citizens of MICH. many times.
They we hear Donald Trump saying he is removing all regulations for water. INSANE. Donald also indicated he will remove all taxes from Businesses. INSANE.
scottie55
(1,400 posts)Shall I repeat?
Octafish
(55,745 posts)...and undergoing 24/7/366 torture in Gitmo.
maxrandb
(15,386 posts)could and SHOULD be brought up on fucking RICO charges!!!!!
Response to maxrandb (Reply #66)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Let's see the RICO criminal indictments, as that's what it is. Snyder and the Michigan GOP cough DeVos Koch and their DEM toadies cough Dillon wanted to piratize Detroit in bankruptcy, including offing with the public treasures in the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit City Water System, the prime provider of good, clean, safe H2O in SE Michigan. Flint paid the price for THEIR greed.
Rex
(65,616 posts)and find out why the AG dropped a lawsuit against Trump U. The GOP has been needing to face criminal indictments since the Nixon WH.
Long overdue.