Prosecutors drop Flint water charges, promise fresh probe

[Eugene]

Last edited Thu Jun 13, 2019, 08:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Prosecutors dropped all criminal charges Thursday against eight people in the Flint water crisis and pledged to start from scratch the investigation into one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in U.S. history.

The stunning decision came more than three years — and millions of dollars — after authorities began examining the roots of the scandal that left Flint’s water system tainted with lead. Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud, who took control of the investigation in January after the election of a new attorney general, said “all available evidence was not pursued” by the previous team of prosecutors.

Officials took possession this week of “millions of documents and hundreds of new electronic devices, significantly expanding the scope of our investigation,” Hammoud and Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement.

The efforts “have produced the most comprehensive body of evidence to date related to the Flint water crisis,” they said, putting investigators “in the best possible position to find the answers the citizens of Flint deserve.”

-snip-

By ED WHITE
2 hours ago


Read more: https://apnews.com/8130920d179c4ae0a08ca76a89dbc4bb

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Edit: updated with new AP article

Original AP article:

The Latest: Charges dropped in Flint water scandal

24 minutes ago

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on criminal charges dropped in the Flint water scandal (all times local):

1:55 p.m.

Prosecutors say they’re dismissing all criminal charges against eight people in the Flint water scandal and starting the investigation over again.

The eight people include former Michigan health director Nick Lyon. He was accused of failing to timely inform the public about an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease when Flint was using improperly treated water from the Flint River in 2014 and 2015.

The outbreak occurred at the same time that the city’s water system was contaminated with lead.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/875ad0e1bc00478ea2530439de1e7e62?utm_source=PushNotification

[lagomorph777]

1. The story says ZERO about the reasons (if any) for this. [edited]

Last edited Thu Jun 13, 2019, 03:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Thanks to Takket for 'splainin' this in more detail.

[Takket]

2. This is probably a good thing

https://www.wxyz.com/news/michigan-attorney-generals-office-drops-all-pending-flint-water-crisis-criminal-cases-pending-further-investigation

So, this started under the rethug A.G.

Michigan now was a Dem gov and A.G.

the rethugs charged some low level scapegoats and let off former gov Snyder and his cronies.

It sounds to me like the Dem A.G. found the original investigation insufficient. A warrant was recently served on Snyder for his phone and computer. I think our Dem A.G. is going for the bigger fish that actually cause this disaster.

[lagomorph777]

4. Thanks for far more info than the "news" story provided!

Good to hear.

[wryter2000]

5. Thanks!

The higher-ups need to pay for this, especially Snyder and the "emergency manager" who decided to use the Flint River for drinking water.

[in2herbs]

6. Me, too. Thanks for the additional background info. This can't be ignored. nt

[former9thward]

9. You will never hear about it again.

Many months ago I posted the charges would be dismissed. They were filed to get the media off their backs. I was flamed. Not that I care. You will never hear about this case again. They will be investigating it till the end of time.

[gibraltar72]

3. Hopefully to do a real investigation.

Governor Whitmer told me personally she would be open to reassessing Snyders role in instigating then covering up this crisis. With the phones being seized recently and unopened boxes of documents being found I hope that is what is going on now.

[Cryptoad]

7. Barrrr lands anutter Plane,,,,,

[Leith]

8. Stop the planet - I want to get off

Between the shitshow in DC and the children permanently poisoned in my hometown, there just isn't any good news any more.

The rethugs are getting away with murder, treason, corruption, and robbery. The wheels of justice have been grinding too slowly and keep stopping for no reason.

[maddogesq]

10. More back story from the Free Press.

The 8 that were let off can be charged with the same or other crimes later. To me, this allows the new prosecutor a fresh slate to go after big fish like Tricky Ricky.

And as I said, Kym Worthy is involved now. She kicks ass.

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/brian-dickerson/2019/06/13/flint-water-investigation-do-over/1446870001/