Flint charge against ex-Michigan Gov. Snyder formally dismissed

A judge formally dismissed a charge against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) related to the Flint water crisis, formally closing the case against him. 

Judge William Crawford dismissed a charge Monday of willful neglect of duty against Snyder after a 2014 water supply switch led to lead contamination in the city of Flint’s water supply.

The dismissal is not a surprise, since the Michigan Supreme Court in October declined to revive the case against Snyder. At that time, prosecutors declared the Flint water prosecutions closed. 

The state’s high court had previously taken issue with the indictment process for Snyder and other officials, finding that a “one-man grand jury” was wrongly used.

The dismissal does not affect civil proceedings; Flint residents were awarded a more than $600 million in a settlement finalized earlier this year. 

Flint’s drinking water was contaminated after the source of its water supply was shifted to the Flint River in 2014. The water wasn’t adequately treated, and this caused lead from pipes to leach into the city’s drinking water.

This exposed about 99,000 residents to lead, which can damage the brain and nervous system and is particularly harmful to children.