This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/us/flint-water-crisis-manslaughter.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 5 Michigan Health Officials Charged in Death in Flint Crisis | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| FLINT, Mich. — Five officials in Michigan, including the head of the state’s health department, were charged on Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter, marking the first time investigators have drawn a direct link between the acts of government officials in Flint’s water contamination crisis and the deaths of residents that followed. | FLINT, Mich. — Five officials in Michigan, including the head of the state’s health department, were charged on Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter, marking the first time investigators have drawn a direct link between the acts of government officials in Flint’s water contamination crisis and the deaths of residents that followed. |
| Since 2014, when this city switched water suppliers, partly to save money, the water has been linked to the lead poisoning of children and the deaths of 12 people from Legionnaires’ disease. It was one those deaths that led to the involuntary manslaughter accusations, Bill Schuette, Michigan’s attorney general, said on Wednesday. He also announced a new list of charges in a sweeping investigation that has already led to cases against 13 officials. | Since 2014, when this city switched water suppliers, partly to save money, the water has been linked to the lead poisoning of children and the deaths of 12 people from Legionnaires’ disease. It was one those deaths that led to the involuntary manslaughter accusations, Bill Schuette, Michigan’s attorney general, said on Wednesday. He also announced a new list of charges in a sweeping investigation that has already led to cases against 13 officials. |
| “The health crisis in Flint has created a trust crisis in Michigan government,” Mr. Schuette said. | “The health crisis in Flint has created a trust crisis in Michigan government,” Mr. Schuette said. |
| Mr. Schuette said that Nick Lyon, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and four other state and local officials failed to properly alert the public about a Legionnaires’ outbreak and the possibility that another outbreak would happen. Those four other state and local officials had previously been charged with other crimes in connection with the water crisis. | Mr. Schuette said that Nick Lyon, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and four other state and local officials failed to properly alert the public about a Legionnaires’ outbreak and the possibility that another outbreak would happen. Those four other state and local officials had previously been charged with other crimes in connection with the water crisis. |
| Mr. Lyon was also accused of misconduct in office, a felony. His lawyer did not immediately return a call for comment. | Mr. Lyon was also accused of misconduct in office, a felony. His lawyer did not immediately return a call for comment. |
| The charging documents pointed in particular to one of the 12 who perished after the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak: Robert Skidmore, 85, who died on Dec. 13, 2015. Mr. Schuette said that Mr. Skidmore, a longtime auto industry worker, had been tending to his ailing wife in a Flint-area hospital when he grew ill himself — apparently from the water. | The charging documents pointed in particular to one of the 12 who perished after the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak: Robert Skidmore, 85, who died on Dec. 13, 2015. Mr. Schuette said that Mr. Skidmore, a longtime auto industry worker, had been tending to his ailing wife in a Flint-area hospital when he grew ill himself — apparently from the water. |
| “It’s a very tragic story,” Mr. Schuette said, adding later: “The family had to bury their mother and their father.” | “It’s a very tragic story,” Mr. Schuette said, adding later: “The family had to bury their mother and their father.” |
| The charging documents said that Mr. Lyon’s “acts and failure to act resulted in the death of at least one person.” It asserted that Mr. Lyon “willfully disregarded the deadly nature” of the Legionnaires’ outbreak and “exhibited gross negligence when he failed to alert the public about the deadly outbreak and by taking steps to suppress information illustrating obvious and apparent harms that were likely to result in serious injury. | The charging documents said that Mr. Lyon’s “acts and failure to act resulted in the death of at least one person.” It asserted that Mr. Lyon “willfully disregarded the deadly nature” of the Legionnaires’ outbreak and “exhibited gross negligence when he failed to alert the public about the deadly outbreak and by taking steps to suppress information illustrating obvious and apparent harms that were likely to result in serious injury. |
| If convicted of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, Mr. Lyon faces up to 20 years in prison. | If convicted of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, Mr. Lyon faces up to 20 years in prison. |
| Also charged on Tuesday was Eden Wells, the chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Wells was charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a peace officer. | Also charged on Tuesday was Eden Wells, the chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Wells was charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a peace officer. |
| The latest charges brought to 15 the number of people charged in connection to Flint’s water crisis. Mr. Schuette said that his investigation was not over. | The latest charges brought to 15 the number of people charged in connection to Flint’s water crisis. Mr. Schuette said that his investigation was not over. |
| Mr. Schuette is a Republican who is widely seen as a possible candidate for governor of Michigan in 2018. He declined to say whether the investigation might lead to charges against Gov. Rick Snyder. He said that investigators had tried to interview Governor Snyder, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election, without success. Mr. Schuette would not elaborate. | Mr. Schuette is a Republican who is widely seen as a possible candidate for governor of Michigan in 2018. He declined to say whether the investigation might lead to charges against Gov. Rick Snyder. He said that investigators had tried to interview Governor Snyder, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election, without success. Mr. Schuette would not elaborate. |
| “We only file criminal charges when evidence of probable cause to commit a crime has been established, and we are not filing charges at this time,” Mr. Schuette said. | “We only file criminal charges when evidence of probable cause to commit a crime has been established, and we are not filing charges at this time,” Mr. Schuette said. |
| Governor Snyder issued a statement of support for Mr. Lyons and Dr. Wells, and appeared critical of the legal process, noting that other state employees had been charged more than a year ago but had yet to have their cases tried in court. | Governor Snyder issued a statement of support for Mr. Lyons and Dr. Wells, and appeared critical of the legal process, noting that other state employees had been charged more than a year ago but had yet to have their cases tried in court. |
| “That is not justice for Flint nor for those who have been charged,” Mr. Snyder said. “Director Lyon and Dr. Wells have been and continue to be instrumental in Flint’s recovery. They have my full faith and confidence, and will remain on duty at D.H.H.S.” | “That is not justice for Flint nor for those who have been charged,” Mr. Snyder said. “Director Lyon and Dr. Wells have been and continue to be instrumental in Flint’s recovery. They have my full faith and confidence, and will remain on duty at D.H.H.S.” |