Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's criminal defense team contends he can't be tried for willful neglect of duty in the Flint water crisis because he wasn't physically in Genesee County when the alleged crimes occurred.
Snyder's attorneys filed a motion Tuesday morning in Genesee County's 67th…
She bears the tremendous responsibility to demonstrate that the charges are warranted and not the product of a political vendetta.
The public was left with little background, however, following the announced charges. Nessel’s office should have been much more transparent on such a major charging decision.
The charges against Snyder seek to hold him criminally responsible for policymaking that went bad. He faces two charges of willful neglect of duty for neglecting “his mandatory legal duties under the Michigan constitution and the Emergency Management Act, thereby failing to protect the health and safety of Flint’s residents.”
Unfortunately, as we’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, not every decision made by government during the heat of a crisis turns out as well as intended.
By JOE GUILLEN, CHRISTINE MACDONALD AND JENNIFER DIXON | Detroit Free Press | Published: January 14, 2021 DETROIT (Tribune News Service) Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder appeared in a Flint court Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty to two charges of willful neglect of duty as state prosecutors revealed indictments against nine defendants as a result of the Flint water crisis. Despite the lower-level charges compared with other defendants, the case against Snyder marked a significant moment in the state s political history. Snyder is the first Michigan governor or former governor to be charged with a crime for alleged conduct while in office. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel praised the high-profile prosecutions led by her office s Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud as well as Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. Nessel had said earlier that she had walled herself off from the criminal cases, turning her focus instead to ongoing civil cases related to the contamination of
Livengood: As Snyder and advisers are charged in Flint catastrophe, executive decision-making is put on trial
Pete Marovich/Bloomberg
Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder testifies March 17, 2016 before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing in about Flint s lead-tainted water crisis.
A Genesee County grand jury indictment of Richard Dale Snyder alleges the former two-term governor of Michigan committed the misdemeanor of willful neglect of duty for failing to supervise his underlings during Flint s disastrous water switch in 2014 and 2015.
The first count of the two-count indictment says Snyder shirked his responsibilities as the state s chief executive by failing to inquire into the performance, condition and administration of the public offices and officers that he appointed and was required to supervise.
Jan 15, 2021
FLINT, Mich. (AP) Here are the former Michigan and state-appointed officials charged in the Flint water crisis, titles at the time, and charges, allegations and maximum penalties they face if convicted:
– Gov. Rick Snyder: Two misdemeanor counts willful neglect of duty; failed to inquire into the performance, condition and administration of the public offices and officers he appointed and supervised; neglected his duty to protect citizens against disaster by failing to declare a state of emergency and/or disaster when he knew of a threat in Flint. 1 year and $1,000 fine each count.
– Director of Health and Human Services Nick Lyon: Nine felony counts involuntary manslaughter. Caused the deaths of John Snyder on June 30, 2015; Debra Kidd on August 2, 2015; Brian McHugh on July 5, 2015; Du Wayne Nelson on August 7, 2015; Nelda Hunt on July 22, 2015; Peter Derscha on Aug. 17, 2015; Thomas Mulcahy on Aug. 22, 2015; Arthur Percy on Aug. 31, 2015; Patricia Schaffer on