A former Flint, Mich., city administrator is alleging Mayor Karen Weaver funneled funding that was meant to help fix that city’s lead water crisis to her political action committee instead.
In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, Natasha Henderson said a city employee informed her in February that Weaver was directing donations from Safe Water/Safe Homes, a donation fund for families impacted by the lead water crisis, to her Karenabout Flint PAC.
“[The employee] was specifically directed to tell donors and potential donors step-by-step how to donate to the Karenabout Flint fund through its website, rather than instruct them in the steps to donate to the Charity Safe Water/Safe Homes fund through the city of Flint website, which [the employee] and the volunteer had previously been doing,” the lawsuit stated.
Weaver has been lauded as a champion for her hometown, where she took over as mayor in November. It’s her first ever political position and she has quickly become a popular figure in Flint due to her willingness to stand up to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.
The lawsuit alleges Henderson on Feb. 9 asked the city’s attorney, Anthony Chubb, to begin an investigation into the employee’s claims. Three days later, after not hearing anything from Chubb, Weaver fired Henderson.
When Henderson asked why she was being fired, “Mayor Weaver responded that she had met with authorities at the state of Michigan who indicated that the state of Michigan could no longer fund Ms. Henderson’s salary.” Henderson says the city of Flint paid her salary, not Michigan.
On March 14, the Flint City Council approved Weaver’s decision to fire Henderson and the lawsuit states that Henderson was “disparaged and defamed” during the meeting.
Henderson is alleging her First Amendment rights were violated because she was a whistleblower who was fired. She is also alleging wrongful termination, wrongful discharge in violation of public policy and breach of contract.
In April 2014, a state emergency manager appointed by Snyder signed off on a symbolic vote from the Flint City Council to change the city’s water source to a new local authority. While a pipeline was being built, a state official decided the city would get its water from the Flint River instead of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.
The Flint River water, however, was so acidic that it caused the lead pipes bringing water from the city’s cast iron mains into homes to corrode. Lead leached off the pipes and into drinking water throughout the city.
The state and the federal government have declared a state of emergency, and Flint residents are not able to drink the water coming out of their taps.
A report done by the state indicated state environmental officials are at fault for the crisis. Three people — two state regulators and one city official — have been charged with state crimes, and the Michigan attorney general’s office continues to investigate the incident.
President Obama visited the eastern Michigan town last week.
Weaver declined to comment on the lawsuit to multiple media outlets Monday.
