Attorney General Bill Schuette has formally charged three Michigan environmental employees in connection to the Flint water crisis, according to CNN.
“They had a duty to protect the health of families and citizens of Flint,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday. “They failed to discharge their duties. They failed in their responsibilities to protect the health and safety of families of Flint.”
If you can recall, city officials in Flint, Mich. have been doing damage control ever since it was revealed that citizens had been drinking water that was contaminated with dangerously high levels of lead. The water first became contaminated after the city began using the water from the Flint River as its main source. Apparently environmental employees in Flint failed to make sure that the water was cleaned properly, and the dirty water corroded city pipes, allowing lead to get into the water. They also denied responsibility for the city’s water issues. Once research had shown that the levels of lead in children had increased tremendously, Flint switched back to getting its water from its original source, Detroit.
Stephen Busch and Michael Prysby were respectively a water supervisor and water engineer of the Michigan Department of Environmental Equality, while Michael Glasgow was the utilities administrator for the city of Flint. All three have been charged for their involvement.
Busch and Prysby are being charged with three felonies: misconduct in office, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to tamper with evidence. They have also been charged with two misdemeanor violations of the Safe Water Drinking Act. Prysby was charged with an additional count of misconduct in office after he authorized the Flint Water Treatment Plant while knowing that the plan would not provide clean water for the citizens of Flint.
Glasgow has been charged with tampering with evidence and willful neglect of duty. Tampering with evidence carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Many residents of Michigan are happy with the charges being brought against the officials, but will not be satisfied until Governor Rick Snyder is also brought up on charges.
“The criminal charges against MDEQ officials are one step towards justice for the families of Flint who were poisoned as a result of the actions of Governor Snyder,” Rep. Elijah Cummings said, according to the Huffington Post. “The people of Flint deserve accountability for the actions of Governor Snyder and his officials that caused this crisis.”