Michigan Prosecutor Opens Probe of Flint Water Crisis

[Eugene]

Source: NBC News

Michigan's top prosecutor launched an investigation Friday into the Flint water crisis to see if any laws were broken.

"In 21st century America, no one should have to fear something as basic as turning on the kitchen faucet," Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement.

"I look forward to working with federal, state and local officials, community leaders and Flint residents as we seek answers regarding state law and hope through the process we can help restore some of the trust in our government while helping families move forward."

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The crisis dates back to April 2014 when Flint switched water sources to save money. The new supply, from the Flint River, was saltier and corroded pipes, leaching lead into the system.

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Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigan-prosecutor-opens-probe-flint-water-crisis-n497286

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JAN 15 2016, 9:46 AM ET
by STEPHANIE GOSK, HANNAH RAPPLEYE and TRACY CONNOR

[scottie55]

1. About Time

Is it a real investigation, or a white wash to make us think the people who poisoned thousands of children may "someday" be held accountable.

Will it be like most of the other investigations>

Most likely.

Sorry kiddies.

[groundloop]

3. Most likely it's only a political show.... a quick search turned up this:

http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/politics-and-prejudices-scary-bill-schuette/Content?oid=2376694



Politics & Prejudices: Scary Bill Schuette
By Jack Lessenberry

I've been watching Michigan politics for a very long time, and I can't remember anyone more potentially dangerous than Bill Schuette, our demagogue of an attorney general.

Not that we haven't had a cast of crooks and characters. Yes, there was Kwame Kilpatrick the greedy man-boy mayor, who thought the city of Detroit was his candy store, bank, and harem, and who is now guest No. 44678-039 of the federal government, with a room booked till August 2037.

But none of those birds had national pretensions. Schuette does. He serves the worst right-wing elements of his party, and seems willing to do anything to please them to try to win as much power as he possibly can.

To the best of my knowledge, nobody has accused Schuette of a crime. Not the kind you can go to jail for, anyway.

But he is guilty of using and misusing his office to pander to the far right, in his continuing effort to win support for his expected run for governor three years from now.

Every move he makes seems to be politically calculated. He dragged his feet disgracefully on launching any investigation as to whether Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser had themselves misused state resources and violated Michigan law...........

[Wellstone ruled]

9. What you saying is,

save the Synder's ass campaign. Another Bengazi GOP type investigation to just blame the people for voting this turds into office.

[jonno99]

2. Unless they can prove intent -

"The new supply, from the Flint River, was saltier and corroded pipes, leaching lead into the system. "

Michigan will argue that the water itself was fine from the source, and that they didn't anticipate the problems which occurred when that water went through older pipe fittings.

Negligent? My guess is that unless the state actually performed testing of the water through old-style plumbing, AND saw the lead-leaching problem, they won't be found criminally negligent.

[cutroot]

6. They have Known about it for months and maybe longer

They tried to deny and hide it. Several department heads have already resigned, including the head of the MDEQ.

[jonno99]

15. Then they should fry...nt

[notadmblnd]

20. They knew for a full year and down played it

Told everyone repeatedly that the water was safe even after they knew it wasn't.

[scottie55]

4. Lying About Lead Filled Water Being Safe?

Is that a crime?

[Human101948]

8. Eco terrorism!

Who cares what the charge is as long as they get jail time.

[saturnsring]

5. how long before he's replaced by the gov?

[turbinetree]

7. The Attorney General of Michigan.........why is there not a independent investigator...........

"Party: Republican Party"

Quotes:

"It is time to put more cops on the beat and remove our most violent repeat offenders from our neighborhood streets."

"With four of the top ten most violent cities in America, Michigan will never fully flourish unless our governments can fulfill their basic task: protecting public safety."


Don't ya just like the last quote........................ya, think Flint is on that list------------------after all of the jobs were outsourced from "trade deals"............................and so people resort to crime.......................and the population is under employed to the tune of 40% are living in poverty---------------------see a connection there Attorney General Bill Schuette

"With four of the top ten most violent cities in America, Michigan will never fully flourish unless our governments can fulfill their basic task: protecting public safety."

Well, first of all, just maybe, if you were not a lackey for Snyder, you would have called for an"Independent Investigation", ----------------oh , I don't know, last year, when reports started coming out on this nefarious thing called poisoning in Flint.

Because apparently Attorney General Bill Schuette you were sitting on your hands, because you were going after violent people in the streets --------- your job description is suppose to insure and "Protect public safety"------------------ also from psychopaths in government and those that are not-elected and appointed to run cities ---------------again "Protect public safety", from all state departments and people and those outside government.

You really have no standing in this thing called lead poisoning, your just a tad bit late in what your state pay grade requires you to operate and perform under to receive said pay check and you also should be Impeached.

You do realize that it is against the law to willfully and knowingly to poison people, when reports from years ago said, this water was full of lead and is not drinkable-----------do you really need to know how to investigate something...


You should be recalled along with your Governor, Legislature, Courts----------------the whole shebang, but it can't happen, look at what your courts did when petitions were filed on the "appointed city managers" -------------------you failed in your responsibilities----------------------------you and your governor and all of his lackeys should be on stage with the other clowns running for the office of the presidency-------------this is just outrageous --------------the citizens , children of the state are going to pay for this for years, and now the entire United States population is going to pay for this out right neglect-based on politcal greed to save a buck




Honk------------------------for a political revolution Bernie

It is about getting a progressive U.S. Supreme Court, Congress, Legislatures at the State and Local level

[Stuart G]

12. Most important words in your post............"Independent Investigation"...........

He did not call for one.........he is part of the cover up.....I remember the following...........


Nixon fired the independent prosecutor ....
but they still got him..

evidence was hid
but they still got him...

The Attorney General of Michigan.........
but they still will get Snyder..

this ain't about a break in, this is about death, poisoning water for children and the rest of Flint..

I think in spite of the current cover up....

they will get Snyder and his crowd
and this right wing asshole is part of the crowd, for what you pointed out in your post
(and what groundloop pointed out in his)

[turbinetree]

13. Agreed............................

he knows when this governor and his cronies knew and when they knew of this poisoning.



The legislature, the courts let this happen----------------they dismantled the accountability arm of letting the voter be the last line of defense.

This Ayn Rand mentality of operating a government to punish people and to have this mantra of let them eat cake while killing children from lead poisoning and now Legionnaires disease being reported-----------------they should be brought up on charges----------------if I was AG Lynch, I would think there would be a federal statues on the misappropriation of FEMA dollars-------------on a man made issue causing harm


This charade of making it look like he his doing his job is nothing more than a charade of deflecting this criminal activity.
Everyone in this country will have to pay for this damage........




Honk------------------------for a political revolution Bernie

It is about getting a progressive U.S. Supreme Court, Congress, Legislatures at the State and Local level

[24601]

24. In the Federal Government, the Attorney General reports to and can be removed by the President.

In Michigan, as in most states, the Attorney General is elected and cannot be removed by the Governor. It's not uncommon for Governors and State AGs to be from different political parties.

[lark]

10. Hmm, wonder if this is for real or just a fake and a cover-up?

If he really wants to restore trust, start the process to get rid of Snyder. He's the snake that (at best) allowed the good people of Flint to be poisoned by the river water. I say at best because he knew about it and didn't stop it. Don't remember if he pushed this in the first place or not, hence the minor caveat.

[Playinghardball]

11. It should be called the Mad Hatter Caper...

[deancr]

14. The MDPs take on Schuette

A rotten fish from head to tail.

LANSING – The Michigan Democratic Party released the following statement today, on behalf of Party Chair Brandon Dillon, calling on Attorney General Bill Schuette to appoint an independent investigator to probe the Flint water crisis based on his blatant conflict of interest and history of blocking the people of Flint from accessing critical information on the crisis:

“Bill Schuette has disqualified himself from conducting a fair and honest investigation of the Snyder administration’s role in the Flint water crisis, plain and simple,” said Brandon Dillon, Michigan Democratic Party Chair. “His history of stonewalling the release of critical information to the people of Flint shows that he is more interested in protecting his Republican cronies than getting to the bottom of what Snyder knew and when. What’s more, Schuette is the one responsible for defending Snyder against lawsuits from the people of Flint, raising a serious conflict of interest. It’s no wonder Bill Schuette waited months to launch his so-called investigation, and only after being called out for his inaction. Schuette is more interested in political opportunity and protecting his Republican friends than he is in protecting the people of Flint.”

In November, it was reported that the health department told citizens that Schuette’s office had instructed them not to release public documents in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Now, Schuette has been tasked with representing Governor Snyder and his top officials in lawsuits stemming from the Flint water crisis—even as he claims to be conducting his own separate investigation into the Snyder administration’s role in poisoning the Flint water supply.

[iandhr]

16. Will he use the Rhodesia Solution?

[llmart]

17. Michigan Democrats know this is a sham.....

All I had to do was hear the name Bill Schuette on my morning news and knew it was just a phony sentiment. Bill Schuette will either throw a few underlings under the bus or let enough time pass so hoping people will forget about Snyder's role in all this.

Disgusting Repukes in Michigan.

[jimlup]

19. +1

yep!

[Pauldg47]

25. If he does, he should be prosecuted too! Right? .....who could do that? They're all criminal scum!

[jimlup]

18. This is a charade

The Attorney General is a very partisan hard core Republican.

This is for show only. Makes a nice facade of protection for the Republican perpetrators. We need an independent investigator.

[winterwar]

21. Schuette is a right wing dick

He won't do anything but make sure the Republicans get away with it. Watch

[valerief]

22. A federal investigation needs to be done, because I'm sure Michigan will find Michigan did

nothing wrong.

[roamer65]

23. This state is infested with right wing Republiscum.

No way we will get a decent investigation, unless it's done by the U.S. Department of Justice.