Six More Charged in Relation to Flint

Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Friday that 18 criminal charges are being brought against six individuals as a result of the Flint Water Crisis. Three individuals from the Department of Environmental Quality and three from the Department of Health and Human Services have been named.

From the Department of Environmental Quality, former chief of the Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance Liane Shekter-Smith, a current water quality analyst Adam Rosenthal, and a current Community Drinking Water Unit specialist Patrick Cook have been charged. From the Department of Health and Human Services, director of the department’s Program for Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Nancy Peeler, data manager for Health Homes and Lead Prevention program Robert Scott, and former director of the Bureau of Epidemiology and the State Epidemiologist Corinne Miller have also been charged.

According to a statement from the office of the Attorney General, the DEQ failed in their duties to ensure safe drinking water, and continued to run the Flint Water Treatment Plant despite warning signs and the DHHS employees suppressed the information regarding lead in the water.

Ms. Shekter-Smith is being charges with one count of misconduct in office and one count of willful neglect of duty. Mr. Rosenthal faces four charges: misconduct in office; willful neglect of duty; tampering with evidence; and conspiracy. Mr. Cook faces three charges: willful neglect of duty; misconduct in office; and conspiracy. Each of the DHHS employees face the same charges for their alleged role.

Mr. Schuette and Andy Arena, a chief investigator and former head of the FBI in Detroit, commented the investigation is not yet over. More charges are to be expected.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, August 5, 2016 9:36 AM
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