FLINT, Mich. — The Michigan Attorney General's Office is charging former Governor Rick Snyder and 8 others in connection to the Flint Water Crisis.
The prosecution team investigating the Flint water crisis unveiled its findings Thursday morning.
Snyder, along with members of his administration and a former City of Flint employee were arraigned Thursday morning in Genessee County Court.
Indictments include:
- Nicholas Lyon, former MDHHS director - 9 counts of involuntary manslaughter & 1 count of willful neglect of duty
- Eden Wells, former chief medical executive - 9 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 2 counts of misconduct in office, & 1 count of willful neglect of duty
- Richard Baird, senior advisor, one count perjury, one count misconduct in office, one count obstruction of justice, one count extortion
- Nancy Peeler, former manager of early childhood section of MDHHS - 2 counts of misconduct in office & 1 count of willful neglect of duty
- Gerald Ambrose, former finance director and state-appointed emergency manager for City of Flint - 4 counts of misconduct in office
- Darnell Earley, former state-appointed emergency manager for City of Flint - 3 counts of misconduct in office
- Howard Croft, former director of the Department of Public Works for the City of Flint - 2 counts of willful neglect of duty
- Rick Snyder, former governor of Michigan - 2 counts of willful neglect of duty
- Jarrod Agen, former chief of staff - 1 count of perjury
Snyder face two counts of willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor with a penalty of 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Wells and Lyon face the most serious charges. If convicted, they could face 15 years in prison. The former chief medical executive for the state and ex-director of MDHHS faced the same charges in the previous investigation. Those charges were dismissed when the Attorney General decided to start a new probe into the crisis.
The charges stem from a new investigation into the Flint Water Crisis by Attorney General Dana Nessel, Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud, and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. They spent 12 months presenting evidence to a grand jury, which decided what charges would be pursued.
“Solicitor General Hammoud and Prosecutor Worthy’s track records demonstrate their commitment to public service as experienced prosecutors, which is why I appointed them to lead the criminal investigation in the Flint water crisis,” Nessel said in a statement. “I trust today’s announcement reflects their professional responsibilities and ethical obligations as the prosecuting authorities in this matter, and that their decisions are based solely on the facts, the law and the evidence.”
“Pure and simple this case is about justice, truth, accountability, poisoned children, lost lives, shattered families that are still not whole, and simply giving a damn about all of humanity,” Worthy said in her opening statements.
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