Court Refuses to Revive Charges Against Key Figures in Flint Water Scandal
Court Refuses to Revive Charges Against Key Figures in Flint Water Scandal
Court Refuses to Revive , Charges Against Key Figures , in Flint Water Scandal.
On September 20, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected an effort to revive criminal charges against seven people involved with the Flint water scandal.
ABC reports that an appeal by prosecutors tried to reverse a 2022 ruling that dismantled the cases.
The attorney general's office used a one-judge grand jury to hear evidence and order indictments against nine people, including former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
The attorney general's office used a one-judge grand jury to hear evidence and order indictments against nine people, including former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
Last year, the Supreme Court struck down the charges, saying the process was unconstitutional.
Last year, the Supreme Court struck down the charges, saying the process was unconstitutional.
Undeterred, state prosecutors returned to Flint courts, arguing that the charges could be revived by refiling the documents.
Undeterred, state prosecutors returned to Flint courts, arguing that the charges could be revived by refiling the documents.
However, this position was rejected by the Supreme Court who said, “we are not persuaded that the question presented should be reviewed by this court.”.
The former governor was charged with willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor offense, however the indictment against him was ultimately dismissed.
The former governor was charged with willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor offense, however the indictment against him was ultimately dismissed.
In 2014, the state started to source water from the Flint River, but failed to treat the water to reduce its corrosive impact on the city of Flint's old pipes.
The resulting lead contamination lasted for 18 months, with some experts attributing a fatal outbreak of Legionnaires' disease to the 2014-15 water switch.
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ABC reports that efforts to file the charges again could be blocked by Michigan's six-year statute of limitations