Four more Flint officials charged over water crisis
Four more officials were charged Tuesday in connection to the lead-contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan, as Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced two of the city's former emergency managers and two water plant officials will face felony charges of "false pretenses and conspiracy." The emergency managers, who will be the highest-ranking officials to be charged thus far over the water crisis, will also face misdemeanor charges for "misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty," CNN reported.
"All too prevalent and very evident during the course of this investigation has been a fixation on finances and balance sheets," Schuette said Tuesday at a press conference. "This fixation has cost lives. This fixation came with the expense of protecting the health and safety of Flint." Tuesday's charges bring the total number of people charged up to 13, as the city continues to deal with the fallout of its bureaucratic negligence.
Schuette has also filed lawsuits against water supply engineering firms. Thousands of children in Flint were exposed to dangerously high levels of lead in their drinking water after the local government, under a state-appointed emergency manager, changed the city's water sources in April 2014.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The double standards don't trouble the critics'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 22, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - frozen assets, blazing fires, and more
By The Week US Published
-
How much of a blow is ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question Action by Hague court damages Israel's narrative that Gaza conflict is a war between 'good and evil'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published