Flint Water Crisis: ‘Final Nail In Coffin’ In Fight For Charges: MI Attorney General

FLINT, MI — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday her office is closing its case seeking charges against officials in connection to the Flint Water Crisis, according to the Attorney's General office.

Nessel said she made the decision to close the case after the Michigan Supreme Court refused to hear appeals of a lower court order dismissing the misdemeanor charges brought against former governor Richard Snyder. The court said it was "not persuaded that the question presented should be reviewed by the court."

"Today, our Supreme Court has put the final nail in the coffin of the Flint Water Prosecutions," the Flint Water Prosecution Team said. "The Court decided that a process which has stood in place for over a century, one whose legitimacy the Court upheld repeatedly, was simply not ‘good enough’ to hold those responsible for the Flint Water Crisis accountable for their actions. Our disappointment in the Michigan Supreme Court is exceeded only by our sorrow for the people of Flint."

The Flint Water Prosecution Team will be releasing a full and thorough report to the public in the months to come detailing the efforts and decisions of the State prosecution, according to the Attorney's General office.

The prosecution team conducted a thorough investigation over 12 months that led to a one-man grand jury. A Genesee County Circuit Court judge then found probable cause that crimes were committed by government officials and issued 11 indictments and 41 charges against the nine defendants.

Officials believe the report will be released in 2024, but it's unclear what can be made public since the prosecution's team use of a one-judge grand jury puts strict limits on what evidence can be released from the investigation.

A Genesee Circuit Court judge then dismissed the two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect by finding that a one-man grand jury did not have the authority to issue indictments. Charges against seven people and former state government officials were then dismissed by Genesee Circuit Court Judge in 2022.

"The residents of Flint deserved their day in court," prosecutors said. "If a jury decided that the defendants were not guilty of the charged offenses, so be it. To deny the opportunity to present the evidence and to let the victims tell their story is truly heartbreaking."