Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder charged over Flint water crisis

The charge follows one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in US history, when water containing lead caused a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak

It made Flint a national symbol of government dereliction, and was seen as an example of environmental injustice and racism

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder has been charged and other former officials are facing charges after a new investigation of the Flint water scandal, which devastated the majority black city with lead-contaminated water. Photo: AP

Published: 12:08pm, 14 Jan 2021Updated: 12:08pm, 14 Jan 2021

The former governor of the US state of Michigan, Rick Snyder, was charged on Wednesday with wilful neglect of duty after an investigation of ruinous decisions that left Flint with lead-contaminated water and a regional outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.

The charges, revealed in an online court record, are misdemeanours punishable by up to a year in jail and a US$1,000 fine.

The charges are groundbreaking: No governor or former governor in Michigan’s 184-year history had been charged with crimes related to their time in that office, according to the state archivist.

“We believe there is no evidence to support any criminal charges against Governor Snyder,” defence lawyer Brian Lennon said on Wednesday night, adding that state prosecutors still had not provided him with any details.

Lennon said earlier that a criminal case would be “outrageous”. Snyder and others were expected to appear in court on Thursday, followed by a news conference by Attorney General Dana Nessel and prosecutors.

Besides Snyder, a Republican who was governor from 2011 through 2018, charges are expected against other people, including former officials who served as his state health director and as a senior adviser.