Flint Water Crisis: Michigan AG Releases Final Accountability Report

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released a comprehensive report on the Flint water crisis, calling it the final step her office can take toward accountability. The 101-page document, made public on Tuesday, provides a detailed history of the disaster and the unsuccessful attempt to bring criminal charges against nine individuals, including former Governor Rick Snyder.

The crisis began in 2014 when Flint, under state financial management, switched its water source from Detroit to the Flint River to cut costs. The river water was not properly treated, causing lead to leach from aging pipes into the drinking water. For years, residents were exposed to the contaminated water while officials insisted it was safe, even as doctors reported elevated lead levels in local children.

Nessel, a Democrat in her final term, said the report is meant to give the public a full account of the criminal investigation, which never reached a jury. "I hope this offering... may tell one part of the story of the Flint water crisis, and put the truth in the hands of the people of Flint who deserve it the most," she said.

After taking office in 2019, Nessel replaced a special prosecutor and assembled a new team to investigate. That team brought charges against Snyder and others, presenting evidence to a judge acting as a one-person grand jury. However, the state Supreme Court dismissed all charges in 2022, ruling that the judge lacked the authority to issue indictments under the grand jury law.

Nessel defended the prosecutors' strategy, calling it "the smartest possible move" at the time. She also noted that three of the justices who ruled against the charges were appointed by Snyder, saying, "I think it's impossible to separate those things." She expressed frustration that "justice has evaded the people of Flint."

The report took longer than expected to release due to the need to redact secret grand jury proceedings and summarize millions of documents. The crisis led to a $626 million settlement for affected residents in 2020 and prompted nationwide discussions about drinking water infrastructure. Snyder acknowledged the lead problem in 2015, and a state of emergency was declared in early 2016.