The top Democrat on the House Government Oversight and Reform Committee blasted Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Monday after receiving his written answers to committee questions on the Flint water crisis, particularly about the governor deleting emails.
Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland reiterated his concerns that Snyder may have perjured himself when he testified before the committee in March. He said Snyder wrote in testimony recently submitted to the committee that he may have deleted emails related to the crisis and said that he didn’t remember “key facts.”
“He has reversed his sworn testimony before the committee and admitted that he did in fact delete some of his emails, and we may never know what they said. Although he claims he was aware of problems with Flint’s water, he repeatedly claims that he can’t recall basic information from that period, and he continues to withhold documents and witnesses from Congress,” Cummings said.
“Despite Gov. Snyder’s repeated promises to be transparent and accountable and to cooperate with Congress, his actions are impeding our ability to thoroughly investigate this crisis.”
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.
Snyder has been under fire from House Democrats since the lead water crisis in Flint exploded onto the national consciousness earlier this year. He was drilled by Democrats during a committee hearing on March 17, and Cummings has been pressuring Snyder to comply further with his investigation of the crisis.
Cummings said Snyder admitted he may have deleted from emails prior to April 2013 that may have discussed preliminary decision making relating to switching Flint’s water source. He told the committee in March that it was “not accurate” to say he deleted emails, but in his written responses he changed his answer to stating that it was possible he deleted some emails.
Snyder also told Cummings and the committee that he didn’t recall any specific email or letter lawmakers asked him about in written questions. Cummings said Snyder said he didn’t recall specific events at least eight times in his written responses.
In his written responses, Snyder told the committee he was aware of problems with Flint’s water dating to water quality concerns in fall 2014, including concerns about lead in the water last summer.
Anna Heaton, a spokeswoman for Snyder, downplayed Cummings’ concerns about Snyder’s emails being deleted. She said the Republican governor was not required to retain any emails before April 2013 and Snyder does not believe anything relevant was deleted.
All documents related to lawsuits challenging the decisions of emergency managers in Flint have been kept, she said. She blasted Cummings’ statement as “cherry picking.”
“Continued cherry-picking of legal documents and partisan attacks do nothing to help the people of Flint,” Heaton said. “In contrast, Gov. Snyder’s focus remains on all levels of government working together to help the people of Flint and support Flint’s recovery.”
