Michigan charges six more public workers in Flint water crisis

three from the Department of Health and Human Services — Nancy Peeler, Corinne Miller and Robert Scott. In addition to the misconduct in office charges, there were willful neglect of duty and various conspiracy counts.

“Each attempted to bury or cover up, downplay or hide info that contradicted their own narrative, their story … (that) there’s nothing wrong with Flint water, it’s perfectly safe to use. In essence, these individuals concealed the truth and they were criminally wrong to do so,” Schuette said at a news conference in the poor, predominantly black city of nearly 100,000 people 55 miles north of Detroit.

Under the leadership of a state-appointed emergency manager, officials in April 2014 began using the Flint River as Flint’s water supply. State officials did not require that the river water be treated for corrosion, and lead from aging pipes and fixtures leached into Flint homes and businesses. The city remained on that water supply for 18 months, despite complaints by residents.

Elevated levels of the toxin were discovered in children. Lead contamination has been linked to learn- ing disabilities and other problems.

Shekter Smith, former head of the state’s drinking water office, appeared last month in a Detroit courtroom so her lawyer could assert her constitutional right against self-incrimination amid ongoing investigations. She hadn’t yet been charged but was reassigned after the water crisis came to light and her firing was announced in February.

It’s the second round of charges stemming from the water crisis. In April, two state regulators and a city employee were charged with official misconduct, evidence-tampering and other offenses.