Bill Schuette announcing charges in April (Deadline Detroit)
Attorney General Bill Schuette at the podium: From left above: Chief Investigator Andy Arena, deputized assistant Attorney General Todd Flood and investigator Ellis Stafford.
FLINT -- After endless months of residents, politicians and concerned citizens calling the Flint water crisis a "crime," state Attorney General Bill Schuette on Wednesday delivered the first round of criminal charges against three government workers, with a promise of more to come.
"So many things went so terribly wrong, and tragically wrong, in Flint,” Schuette told a packed crowd of local and national members of the media at the Riverfront Banquet Center in downtown Flint at the 1 p.m. press conference.
“I’ve stated this was the beginning of the road back — the road back to building and restoring trust and confidence of Flint families in their government," he said.
Specifically, authorities alleged that government workers tampered with evidence, "improperly manipulated" water tests, obstructed with an investigation and mislead federal and county officials about the safety of Flint’s water.
Those charged Wednesday are:
- Stephen Busch, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) district water supervisor (three felonies, two misdemeanors)
- Michael Prysby, DEQ (four felonies, two misdemeanors)
- Michael Glasgow, City of Flint laboratory and water supervisor (one felony, one misdemeanor).
Schuette declined to say whether investigators had interviewed Gov. Rick Snyder, and deflected a question whether the governor was a target. He said nothing was off the table in the ongoing investigation being headed by Andy Arena, the former head of the Detroit FBI and Royal Oak Attorney Todd Flood, who has been deputized as an assistant state attorney general.
Mayor Karen Weaver comments after the press conference
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, who sat in the front row at the press conference, later said she was told of the charges Tuesday. "We are glad this has gotten started," she said.
Gov. Rick Snyder said in Lansing that both state employees are suspended without pay and that he has done nothing criminally wrong, according to WXZY.
Specifically Prysby faces six criminal counts: Two charges of misconduct in office; and one count each of conspiracy to tamper with evidence, tampering with evidence, engaging in a treatment violation that violates the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act and engaging in a monitoring violation that violates the Michigan' Safe Drinking Water Act.
Busch faces five counts: Misconduct in office, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, tampering with evidence, engaging in a treatment violation that violates Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, and engaging in a monitoring violation that violates the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act.
Glasgow faces two counts: Tampering with evidence and willful neglect of duty.
Authorities charged Busch and Prysby with manipulating monitoring reports mandated by law and tampering with evidence by "knowingly and intentionally" removing, altering, concealing or otherwise tampering with evidence that involved"Lead and Copper Report and Consumer Notice of Lead Result" dated Feb. 27, 2015 and/or July 28, 2015 and/or Aug. 20 2015. Glasgow was accused of similar charges.
Another allegations was that Busch and Prysby allegedly failed to address optimal corrosion control treatment at the Flint Water Treatment Plant after "lead action levels" were deemed to be dangerous. They are also accused of obstructing the Genesee County Health Department's investigation into a Legionella outbreak, which so far, has resulted in 12 deaths. It's still not clear if the deaths are tied to the water, though there has been speculation to that effect.
During the press conference, a reporter said Glasgow said he was only following orders.
The special prosecutor, Flood said: "You can't be told to do something that's wrong." History shows that's not a valid defense, he added.
Andy Arena, chief investigator in the probe, said: "This is the biggest case in the history of the State of Michigan. I think history will bear me out when we’re done."
