This Is All Far From Over ...

... but, for now, five Michigan officials have just been charged with involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the Flint water crisis.

Good. Nick Lyon, Michigan’s health department director, Lyon is the highest-ranking member of Governor Rick Snyder’s administration to be charged, along with former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Drinking Water Chief Liane Shekter-Smith, Water Supervisor Stephen Busch and former Flint Water Department Manager Howard Croft.

The five were indicted for not telling the public about an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, which has been linked to the Flint water crisis. Governor Snyder’s administration switched the water supply to the Flint River to save money, leading to 12 deaths and 79 people sickened with Legionnaires’ disease in 2014-15.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said further charges against Snyder and his administration could be forthcoming. Good; these white men, in an effort to save money, poisoned an entire community of low income people and minorities. Snyder and his administration—the whole lot—need to be held accountable for they did just to save a buck.

Latest