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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 1 July 2019

Flint hears from prosecutors who dropped water charges

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Prose- night at a union hall in the Arthur Woodson said de-
cutors who dropped charg- city, two weeks after dis- fendants who pleaded no
es against eight people in missing charges against contest "got less time for
the Flint water scandal ex- the former state health di- poisoning over 98,000 peo-
plained their decision in a rector and other officials. ple than somebody steal-
public forum Friday night, The three-year probe has ing a slice of pizza. People
telling frustrated, shocked started over, and charges have died. ... I have PTSD.
and saddened residents could be refiled. It's hard to trust. But what
they must look at hundreds "We have received infor- I heard here today: Y'all
of mobile devices and mil- mation that is absolutely have been totally honest."
lions of documents that a relevant to our investiga- A tearful Marijoyce Camp-
previous investigative team tion that we have never bell said she had a "heavy
Claudia Perkins-Milton, second right, joins other Flint residents never reviewed. had before," said Ham- heart" after learning about
as they show their determination while asking heartfelt, serious Michigan Solicitor General moud, who took over the new documents and
questions to Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Fadwa Hammoud and the investigation of Flint's being told some materials
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy during a community Wayne County Prosecu- lead-contaminated water the previous investigative
meeting with Flint water prosecutors at UAW Local 659 in Flint, tor Kym Worthy spoke to in January following the team had were heavily re-
Mich. about 100 residents Friday election of Dana Nessel, a dacted.
Associated Press
Democrat who succeeded "I cannot believe some-
Republican Attorney Gen- thing like this can happen,"
eral Bill Schuette. Nessel is she said. "Please, please
not involved in the criminal tell me some heads are
probe because she is work- going to roll, that some-
ing to resolve Flint residents' body is going to pay for all
lawsuits against the state. this murder, all this criminal
Hammoud cited the need activity." Other people de-
to review 20 million docu- manded charges against
ments and said her team Republican former Gov.
uncovered in a month, with Rick Snyder, who has apol-
search warrants , what pre- ogized for his administra-
vious investigators had not tion's role in the crisis, and a
retrieved in three years. closer look at local officials
The prosecutors criticized involved in the construc-
how their predecessors cut tion of a regional pipeline
seven other officials plea that was a factor in the
deals resulting in no jail time temporary switch to using
or criminal records. water from the Flint River.
"I've never seen anything The prosecutors said they
like it," said Worthy, who will go where the evidence
also joined the criminal takes them.
team. "A lot of us are really angry,
Some residents were and we want to see some
shocked by the massive justice," said Claudia Per-
amount of new materials kins-Milton, adding that the
being reviewed and that new prosecutors "are the
the statute of limitations for ones to do it."
one felony crime — mis- "There's a lot of criminals
conduct in office — could in this case," she said. "It's
expire in nine months. Oth- wide open."
ers thanked the new pros- Another resident, Laura
ecutors, agreeing the prior MacIntyre, criticized how
investigation was inade- prosecutors announced
quate. their decision.q