Michigan Attorney General: I May Charge Gov. Snyder With Manslaughter For Flint Poisonings

[KamaAina]

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/2016/02/10/michigan-attorney-general-i-may-charge-gov-snyder-with-manslaughter-for-flint-poisonings/

After news of the lead poisoning disaster in Flint, Michigan went public, the nation howled for justice. People of every state and every party recoiled in horror at the thought that the precious resource that we often take far granted, our clean water, could be tampered with and sullied without their knowledge or approval, and have demanded justice for the people of Flint and the suspected 8,000 children that have endured irreversible lead poisoning.

That justice might soon be on its way. Todd Flood, special counsel for the state attorney general’s office, announced that his investigation could lead to criminal charges. “We’re here to investigate what possible crimes there are, anything to the involuntary manslaughter or death that may have happened to some young person or old person because of this poisoning, to misconduct in office. We take this very seriously,” adding that it wasn’t “far-fetched” to see his way towards involuntary manslaughter charges if he finds “gross negligence” or a “breach of duty” – which he almost certainly will....

Their negligence exposed tens of thousands to water heavily contaminated with lead – for which they were forced to pay higher rates than anywhere else in the county. An outbreak of the rare Legionnaire’s disease, a deadly form of pneumonia, killed ten people in Flint, which was traced back to the water- which Snyder’s officials were aware of but again failed to inform the public. Thousands more have been sickened by the polluted water; the next generation of Flint kids will grow up with very serious disabilities.

“We’re not going to shortchange justice,” Attorney General Bill Schuette said. “We’re not going to do justice on the cheap. We’re going to have a full and complete investigation, and where the truth goes, that’s where we’ll go.” The people of America demand justice for Flint. Somebody must pay for this entirely preventable crisis; the “thoughts and prayers” of tight-fisted Congressional Republicans will not cover it.

The sign below is actually in Michigan!

[randys1]

1. happy day

[Beowulf]

2. Please make this be so!

And hold the trial in Flint, too! I know, that's not going to happen.

[merrily]

3. If he does, he could be the next elected governor of Michigan, maybe Senator.

In time, maybe President.

Go for it, man. Please, please, let these guys know they have no immunity for intentional acts that do massive harm to humans, esp. children. Please, please, go for it.

[safeinOhio]

24. No way

He is just another neoliberal republican and the only reason he is throwing Snyder under the bus is because he has already said he might run for governor. Michigan needs Democratic leadership.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

4. Is there something missing?

Nowhere in that article (that I found) did the AG say what the article's headline claims, i.e., charging Snyder specifically.

[HooptieWagon]

7. That's the title of the article at link.

Did you not click, or not read?

[former9thward]

11. I did and it is a made up headline.

Did you not read?

[HooptieWagon]

14. Then shouldn't you take it up with the author of the article?

[former9thward]

18. No, it was posted here and not by the author of the article.

On a discussion board. So I am discussing it. If people responding to posts on a discussion board bothers you then you should take it up with someone.

[greyl]

29. That's like tracking dog shit into someones home, then

blaming it entirely on the dog outside.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

20. Yes, I did

Did you not read what I wrote? I found nowhere in the article that the AG says he's going to charge Snyder.

[cui bono]

17. There was this about the investigation:

That justice might soon be on its way. Todd Flood, special counsel for the state attorney general’s office, announced that his investigation could lead to criminal charges. “We’re here to investigate what possible crimes there are, anything to the involuntary manslaughter or death that may have happened to some young person or old person because of this poisoning, to misconduct in office. We take this very seriously,” adding that it wasn’t “far-fetched” to see his way towards involuntary manslaughter charges if he finds “gross negligence” or a “breach of duty” – which he almost certainly will.

[former9thward]

19. Which does not remotely support the headline.

[LanternWaste]

32. I'd pretend it's important, too.

I'd pretend it's important, too.

[Recursion]

26. The AG says such a thing would be "not far-fetched"

I agree "may" is somewhat stronger than "not far-fetched", but I think the sense is still pretty clear: it is possible the investigation would lead to that.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

28. No, he didn't

The special prosecutor said it wouldn't be far-fetched to possibly press manslaughter charges, but he didn't say against whom.

Not even close to what the headline states.

[Andy823]

30. Exactly

I am sure the Governor will be working very hard to find a scapegoat to get him off the hook. I hope I a wrong, but that's the way the GOP operate, let some low level employe take the blame and let the Governor off the hook.

[G_j]

5. K&R

[mountain grammy]

6. A full and complete investigation

I sure hope so.

[mgmaggiemg]

8. republican suck ;(

[brer cat]

9. Let it be! nt

[former9thward]

10. There is absolutely nothing in the article which suggests the headline.

Whoever wrote the headline of the article at the link completely made it up.

[elfin]

13. Grew up in Flint, follow Michigan news intensely

Schuette is WORSE than Snyder. Just looking for a wedge into the governorship.

Snyder fell into "I am a businessman and nerd, therefor I can ignore other things in order to bring market forces and my version of common sense to my state" trap. That mentality always leads to bad stuff happening to real people, much to the surprise of MBAs like Snyder. While I see a glimmer of conscience in Snyder, I see none in Schuette.

Dale Kildee (former US rep) was my Latin teacher in high school and I am glad his family is going to bat for what is right in my poor beleaguered city and state.

[safeinOhio]

25. ^ 100%

The article must not have mentioned his party and record.

[hifiguy]

15. It is and was a crime against humanity.

People have been hanged for less.

[malaise]

16. By the way turns out that the people of Flint have the highest water rate in the entire USA

They are criminals

[ybbor]

21. Hell is actually a small hamlet not far from Ann Arbor

I've been through there many times.

Flint on the other hand is my home town. It used to be one of the greatest cities in the world, and now it does resemble hell in many respects.

Sad what has happened to the once great city. For more on the history of Flint I encourage you to check out the book "Teardown" written by one of my good friends Gordon Young. He has done many stories in different press sources regarding the current state of affairs there.

[KamaAina]

22. Apparently Hell has frozen over

if one repuke is even considering indicting another.

[ybbor]

23. We can only be so lucky

For being a self-professed nerd, Snyder sure has been a moron more often than not.

[burrowowl]

27. YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

[Gothmog]

31. These charges may be appropriate