FLINT, Mich. – Attorney General Bill Schuette has announced more charges in the Flint water crisis.
Schuette filed 18 more criminal charges against six people. Charges were filed Friday against Nancy Peeler, Corrine Miller and Robert Scott of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). They have been charged with misconduct in office, conspiring to commit misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty. Their charges are related to allegedly concealing test results of lead levels in Flint residents’ blood.
Charges have also been filed against three Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) employees. Liane Shekter-Smith, former DEQ water chief, and Patrick Cook and Adam Rosenthal were charged with crimes related to allegedly misinterpreting federal regulations for lead levels.
The Attorney General broke down the charges further:
Liane Shekter-Smith is alleged to have not taken corrective action or notify public health officials about citizen complaints and a Legionnaires outbreak. Schuette alleges that she also took steps to mislead and conceal evidence from health officials.
Adam Rosenthal allegedly was warned by Flint Water Treatment Plant officials that they weren’t ready for operations. He is also alleged to have manipulate lead testing results and allegedly altered a report.
Patrick Cook allegedly was aware of problems with the Flint water but did not take corrective action. He was the final approval necessary to use the Flint Water Treatment Plant. Cook is the current MDEQ official responsible for lead and copper monitoring. He also allegedly mislead the EPA on the necessity of using corrosion control.
Nancy Peeler, Corrine Miller and Robert Scott are alleged to have discovered that Flint children were being poisoned by lead, but did not forward the information to doctors and health officials.
All the charges carry possible jail sentences and fines.
Three people were also charged in April.
