5 days ago, @VICE + @StatusCoup broke one of the biggest governmental cover-ups of the 21st century related to the #FlintWaterCrisis. Thus far, @nytimes @washingtonpost @AP @CNN @MSNBC @freepress @detroitnews @flintjournal are crickets.
cc @MMFlint
Story:
1) Gov. Snyder warned about Flint River a year before water switch
2) Snyder learned of Legionella outbreak in Oct 2014: 16 months earlier than he told Congress
3) Snyder tried to get the late Elijah Cummings to "back off" from investigating him
4) Current Gov @gretchenwhitmer--who has been pushed as potential VP choice for @JoeBiden--told ex-Flint Mayor she couldn't help Flint because of "Flint fatigue" in state legislature (according to Mayor Weaver). Whitmer also hasn't honored promise to reopen free Flint water pods.
5) Snyder's finding out about deadly Flint Legionella outbreak in October 2014 is significant--we learned his administration made efforts to stop news from going public a few weeks before his reelection contest (PBS reports as many as 115 people may have died from Legionella).
6) Snyder dispersed just $75 million of $389.6 million meant for #FlintWaterCrisis relief to city govt. Rest went to donors and non water-relief destinations--including a powerful private foundation's financial allies. Over $160 million went to "G", "Various," "Blank," and "N/A."
Of course, COVID-19 dominates media/govt right now. But, call me old fashioned--I think major national outlets w/ resources can find time to cover this for a few minutes or in a short print recap.
GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION PERSISTS WHEN THE MASSES DON'T KNOW IT'S HAPPENING.
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