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 The charges were brought by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), a
federal prosecutorial agency, and were based on an investigation
that state prosecutors described as "flawed."
"Dismissing these cases allows us to move forward according to the
non-negotiable requirements of a thorough, methodical and ethical
investigation," Michigan's Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne
County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement.
Eight former state and city officials, including Michigan's chief
medical officer Eden Wells, faced criminal charges for their roles
in the water crisis which killed 12 people and sickened over 70, one
of the worst man-made environmental disasters in U.S. history.
According to the prosecutors, the OSC made agreements that gave law
firms representing state agencies and officials a role in deciding
what information would be turned over to law enforcement during
their investigation. As a result, not all evidence was pursued, they
said.
Additional investigation by the prosecution team has already
identified more individuals of interest in the case, they said.
Flint's troubles began in 2014 after the city switched its water
supply to the Flint River from Lake Huron to cut costs. Corrosive
river water caused lead to leach from pipes, contaminating the
drinking water and causing an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.
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Prosecutors said they dropped charges "without prejudice," meaning
they could be brought again once a new investigation is completed.
"Justice delayed is not always justice denied," Michigan Attorney
General Dana Nessel said in a statement.
But Michigan Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, a Democrat who
represents Flint, expressed his disappointment.
"Months of investigation have turned into years, and the only thing
to show for it is a bunch of lawyers who have gotten rich off the
taxpayers’ dime," he said in a statement. "The people of Flint
believe that they will never see justice, and sadly, so far they’ve
been proven right."
The U.S. Supreme Court in March allowed two class-action lawsuits
filed by Flint residents, who are pursuing civil rights claims
against local and state officials.
(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Bill
Tarrant and James Dalgleish)
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