Thread by @jennelizabethj

BREAKING: Flint water crisis charges dismissed against seven former officials. This is despicable. #flintwatercrisis 🧵: mlive.com/news/flint/202…

I'll break down what happened. 1st, here's statement from prosecution team. "Despite the prosecution’s tireless pursuit of justice for [#FlintWaterCrisis victims] the courts have...[sided with] wealthy individuals w/ political power & influence instead of the families& children."

"[The prosecution's #FlintWaterCrisis case was] thwarted based upon a new interpretation of a nearly century-old law."

The [#FlintWaterCrisis] prosecution [team] has pledged to exhaust all available legal options to pursue this case and that pledge remains. The team will review today’s ruling and continue its pursuit of justice for Flint.”

I'm going to break in now before going further to add some important human focus on this for perspective. Recently, two friends from Flint passed away. The #FlintWaterCrisis is NOT over. Tony.

https://twitter.com/jennelizabethj/status/1485744980278882307?s=20&t=-eg_e5eXvM7Q-HFMPAyruQ

Virginia. Virginia, one of the sweetest women I've ever known, passed away right before charges were tossed this past June (again - they'd been tossed before) because of the use of a one-man grand jury.

https://twitter.com/jennelizabethj/status/1536443604599701507?s=20&t=-eg_e5eXvM7Q-HFMPAyruQ

Here is more on what happened in June after the Michigan Supreme Court tossed the #FlintWaterCrisis charges against @onetoughnerd (Former MI Gov. Rick Snyder) and others. apnews.com/article/health…

Now let's get to today. Today, charges were dropped against 7 Flint officials. This is a total failure of the prosecution team. It is a total failure of our country's inability to hold the wealthy and powerful accountable. #FlintWaterCrisis

Prosecutors tried to convert June's tossed indictments into criminal complaints. Lawyers for former Gov. Snyder argued indictments were “illegally obtained.” Judge Kelly apparently agreed there was no merit in this path, saying today “there are no valid charges.”

Here's a fuller quote from Judge Elizabeth Kelly on how the #FlintWaterCrisis prosecution failed: “Anything arising out of the invalid indictments are irreconcilably tainted from inception...Simply put, there are no valid charges.”

The officials whose charges were dropped include (all titles former) MI health director Nick Lyon, MDHHS Medical Exec. Eden Wells, Gov. Snyder chief of staff Jarrod Agen, Emergency Manager Gerald Ambrose, Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, and MDHHS employee Nancy Peeler. #Flint

Note: @onetoughnerd Former MI Gov. Rick Snyder's two misdemeanors are being handled by another judge – but same is expected in his case. #FlintWaterCrisis

There's one very, very important guy I haven't mentioned yet. Richard Baird. He's known as Gov. Rick Snyder's "fixer." He's included in today's tossed charges. Here's a story I did on his complicity in the #FlintWaterCrisis. metrotimes.com/news/exclusive…

Sources in Flint have said they believe the current prosecution team's efforts have been a facade. Why would you do things this way? Why? It was doomed to fail as I've said many times. #FlintWaterCrisis

I want to make clear that justice has in no way been served, ever, in any way, shape or form for Flint – a majority Black, poor city. Media is complicit. I have had stories killed more times than I care to count about the #FlintWaterCrisis and it breaks my heart every time.

Politicians are complicit. A reminder that @BarackObama "drank the water," (something no Flint source I've ever asked believes he actually did) during his presidency, declaring it safe.

https://twitter.com/jennelizabethj/status/1555575490299064321?s=20&t=-eg_e5eXvM7Q-HFMPAyruQ

I want to share some important reporting I've done on the #FlintWaterCrisis to further drive home what is happening. Here is @FlintGate – one of the strongest, best women on the planet. Follow her. Listen to her.

https://twitter.com/jennelizabethj/status/1429083972064186375?s=20&t=-eg_e5eXvM7Q-HFMPAyruQ

I have challenged scumbag lawyers for the #FlintWaterCrisis defense. I will never, ever understand how these evil people sleep at night. I am furious thinking of their inhumanity. Raging.

https://twitter.com/jennelizabethj/status/1429087541098057733?s=20&t=-eg_e5eXvM7Q-HFMPAyruQ

I have knocked on 500 doors in the #FlintWaterCrisis, showing the water testing was tainted and the water was NOT OKAY despite what officials were saying.

https://twitter.com/jennelizabethj/status/1429086511224475656?s=20&t=-eg_e5eXvM7Q-HFMPAyruQ

I've printed out stories – major major #FlintWaterCrisis stories – & IN PERSON asked outlets local to Flint/Michigan WHY they refused to cover important docs & stories. @metrotimes @leedevito is, in my experience, one of the only trustworthy outlets there. Support/Follow them.

I'm angry. They say journalists should be unemotional and remove any "bias" but fuck that. I'm in journalism to EXPOSE CORRUPTION and I do that. And I'm human. And that is what drives me. I will never understand a media that operates differently. #FlintWaterCrisis

Next I'll share some investigative pieces I've done. "Michigan's Ex-Gov. Rick Snyder Knew About Flint's Toxic Water—and Lied About It" - Thank you VICE and @mzMichGarcia for having the guts to publish. #FlintWaterCrisis vice.com/en/article/z3b…

"THE FLINT COVER-UP: Wiped Phones and the Battle for Evidence in Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s Prosecution" Thank you to @ryangrim @theintercept for having the guts to publish. #FlintWaterCrisis theintercept.com/2021/07/21/fli…

"How A Flurry of Suspicious Phone Calls Set Investigators on Rick Snyder's Trail" #FlintWaterCrisis Thank you again to @ryangrim and @theintercept for having the guts to publish. theintercept.com/2021/01/13/fli…

I may add more to this thread later. Please share what's happened. We must not EVER forget about Flint. People are suffering and dying. Children's lives are forever ruined. This would NOT have happened in a rich, white city. #JusticeForFlint #FlintWaterCrisis

Read in an easier format via my @courage_news Substack:

https://twitter.com/jennelizabethj/status/1577446211971211264?s=20&t=vVyV3xdNihV2JGoYw82ieA