Michigan ex-governor Rick Snyder facing charges in Flint water crisis News
© Wikimedia (Rick Snyder)
Michigan ex-governor Rick Snyder facing charges in Flint water crisis

The Attorney General of Michigan brought two charges of criminal neglect Wednesday against former governor Rick Snyder for his role in the Flint water crisis.

The charges cite violations of section 750.478 of the Michigan Penal Code. Section 750.478 refers to willful neglect of duty of a public officer or a person holding public trust or employment. The misdemeanor offense is punishable by no more than one year in prison or a fine of not more than $1,000.

Snyder served as governor of Michigan from 2011 to 2019. The charges, which show an alleged offense date of April 25, 2014, center around the Flint water crisis. In April 2014 Flint switched its water supply from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to water from the Flint River. Officials neglected to apply corrosion inhibitors, chemical compounds that, when added to liquid, decrease the corrosion rate of metals that come in contact with the water. Subsequently, lead from aging pipes leached into the water supply. More than 100,000 Flint residents were exposed to elevated lead levels. It remains in dispute whether the Flint water crisis caused the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, which killed 12 and affected another 87 residents.

To date, at least 15 other criminal cases have been filed against state and local officials for their roles relating to the crisis. However, former state epidemiologist Corrine Miller has been the only one convicted.