Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a report on the Flint water crisis, calling it the final accountability step her office can take after criminal charges were dismissed. The report details the investigation into the lead-contaminated water that affected residents for years.
The report provides a detailed public account of the investigation into the Flint water crisis, offering closure and transparency for residents who suffered health consequences, even though criminal accountability was ultimately blocked by the courts.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released a comprehensive report detailing the investigation into the Flint water crisis, stating it is the final step her office can take toward accountability. The crisis, which began in 2014 when officials switched Flint's water source to the Flint River to cut costs, resulted in lead leaching from old pipes into the drinking water, causing significant health concerns for residents.
The 101-page report outlines the history of the crisis, the slow response from local and state officials, and the attempt to bring 42 felony and misdemeanor charges against nine individuals, including former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Nessel, who took office in 2019, assembled a new team of attorneys after firing a special prosecutor. This team presented evidence to a judge acting as a one-person grand jury, which issued indictments.
However, the state Supreme Court in 2022 dismissed these charges, ruling that the judge lacked the authority to issue indictments under the grand jury law. Nessel expressed frustration that "justice has evaded the people of Flint" and they will not have their day in criminal court. She defended the prosecutors' decision to seek charges directly from a judge as "the smartest possible move" at the time, while also questioning the political implications of the ruling, noting that three justices who supported the decision were appointed by Snyder.
The report aims to provide a thorough public account of the criminal investigation, and Nessel hopes it will place the truth in the hands of the people of Flint. The crisis led to a state of emergency in 2016, with Congress eventually approving about $170 million for Flint. A $626 million settlement was approved for residents in 2020. The events in Flint prompted other communities to re-evaluate their drinking water delivery systems.